Assessing Programs, Methods, and Policies to Engage and Empower Family Caregivers

This issue of Journal of Applied Gerontology includes an impressive collection of articles that highlight interventions, assess moderators, explore methodological approaches and emphasize the value of caregiver assessments, all within the context of supporting and empowering family caregivers. Recognition is growing of the sheer magnitude of caregivers (AARP Public Policy Institute estimates over 45 million) and the impact, both beneficial and challenging, of fulfilling this role. Several of these articles demonstrate that interventions designed to address caregivers’ varying needs, while remaining adaptable in their approaches, are likely to yield more positive participant outcomes. Each of these articles focuses on the caregivers’ needs while validating their caregiving experiences.