Resources for carers around the world

Caregiver Action Network (CAN) serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with significant health needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease. CAN (the National Family Caregivers Association) is a non-profit organization providing education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the US free of charge.

Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s carers, advocating on behalf of Australia’s carers to influence policies and services at a national level. It works collaboratively with partners and its member organizations, the Network of state and territory Carers Associations, to deliver a range of essential national carer services.

Carers Canada is a coalition dedicated to increasing awareness and recognition of caregivers across the country. Carers Canada leads federal advocacy initiatives and national awareness campaigns recognizing the vital role of caregivers in our health and social care systems and to our country’s economic well-being. Managed through the Canadian Home Care Association, Carers Canada is a priority initiative in our goal to create an integrated health and social care system that provides seamless patient- and family-centred care that is accessible, accountable, evidence-informed and sustainable.

Established in 1965, Carers UK is the UK’s only national membership charity for carers, offering a supportive community and leading a movement for change. Its mission is to make life better for carers, through giving expert advice, information and support; connecting carers so no one has to care alone; campaigning together for lasting change; and innovating to find new ways to reach and support carers.

Carers Worldwide develops and promotes cost effective, sustainable and easily replicable methods of providing support to carers in low- and middle-income countries. It aims to enable service providers, policy makers and other stakeholders to recognize and respond to the needs of carers, ensuring balance and equal value is given to the needs of the carer and the person receiving care. Carers Worldwide currently has programs in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Eurocarers is a European network representing informal carers and their organizations, seeking to advance the recognition of informal care acting on behalf of all carers, former carers, and their organizations, irrespective of their age or the particular health need of the person they are caring for. Eurocarers brings together carers’ organizations as well as relevant universities and research institutes to ensure that care is valued and unpaid care is recognized as central to the sustainability of health and long term care systems.

Established in 2012, IACO serves as an umbrella organization advocating for carers at an international level. A dynamic coalition of carer organizations IACO facilitates strategic collaboration and inclusive dialogue to inform and shape carer-inclusive policies and programming. Our goal is the creation of a global carer strategy and action plan that will foster a commitment to action and ensure the inclusion of carers’ experiences and voices in health and social systems planning.

Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on advancing family caregiving through research, innovation, and advocacy in the US The Alliance conducts research, does policy analysis, develops national best-practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues.