Stakeholder Voices: Interpreting Caregiving Research and Designing Next Steps

Background: Stakeholder engagement can enhance interpretation of research findings and promote meaningful dissemination into policy and practice. Methods: Several organizations dedicated to understanding the needs of diverse older adults and family caregivers and advancing practice and policy to improve their health came together in a series of discussions. More than 120 participants, including family/friend caregivers and their advocates and leaders and researchers from public and private organizations, generated an action agenda for those engaged with family caregivers in service delivery, research, and policy across three virtual sessions. Findings: Although there are common experiences and demands for caregivers, the meanings of these experiences are shaped by a cultural context, and the intersectionality of caregiver experiences by age, race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigrant status, and other factors bring into focus the diversity of life and caregiving experience. Conclusions: This heterogeneity of experience crystalizes the importance of assuring the caregiver is at the center, and that design for programs, research, and policy recognize the importance of understanding caregivers and their unique needs before pre-supposing solutions.