Organization Spotlight: The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC)
About NAC
The National Alliance for Caregiving is an organization that’s dedicated to improving the quality of life for both caregivers and those in their care. With an emphasis on friend and family caregivers, the NAC aims to advance research, advocacy, and innovation in all areas of caregiving.
“We recognize that families provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well-being of those in their care,” NAC says.
What’s particularly helpful for those living with rare diseases is the NAC’s extensive library of resources, including several caregiver guidebooks. The guidebooks are a wealth of tips and resources for anyone in a caregiving role – from how to navigate medical diagnoses and find specialists to improving quality of life through recreation and self-care.
In addition, they have resources for navigating hospital stays and discharge checklists for professionals, plus information you can give to medical or mental health providers to better advocate for caregiving support. The NAC’s research includes valuable insights on the status of Caregiving in the US, completed in partnership with the AARP. The report is widely referenced in the media and among policymakers. It breaks down trends in caregiving at every level and demographic, including trends among marginalized communities.
On the whole, the NAC’s work helps to support a society that places a higher value on caregivers and supports and empowers those caregivers to thrive, whether at home or at work and throughout their lives. They do that by partnering on research projects and advocating for caregivers at national and local levels.
Who makes up the Alliance?
As a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., the NAC represents a coalition of more than 60 non-profit, corporate, and academic organizations. It also includes nearly 40 family support researchers with expertise in pediatric to adult care to geriatric care; and more than 50 advocates who work on national, state, and local platforms to support caregivers across the United States.
“In addition to our national work, NAC leads and participates in a number of global meetings on caregiving and long-term care,” the organization says. They partner with peer organizations in several countries across Europe, plus Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, India and Nepal, Israel, Taiwan, and the UK.
To learn more about NAC’s work, visit these links:
Advocacy: www.caregiving.org/advocacy/
Innovation: www.caregiving.org/lessons-from-the-workplace-caregiving-during-covid-19/
International: www.caregiving.org/advocacy/global-engagement/
The NAC and Rare Diseases
If you or someone you know is a caregiver of a child with a rare and/or serious illness, visit www.caregiving.org/guidebook-for-caregivers-of-children-with-rare-serious-illnesses/ to learn more and access important resources.
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