What We Do

For more than 40 years, FCA has provided services to family caregivers of adults with physical and cognitive impairments, such as Parkinson’s, stroke, Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Our services include assessment, care planning, direct care skills, wellness programs, respite services, and legal/financial consultation vouchers. Ongoing support is available with FCA CareNav™, also now on a digital service platform. FCA is a longtime advocate for caregivers in the areas of policy, health and social system development, research, and public awareness, on the state, national and international levels.

Check out the FCA Impact Report 2022 to learn how we’re working to improve the lives of family caregivers.

Our History

More than 40 years ago, a small task force of families and community leaders in San Francisco came together to create support services for those struggling to provide long term care for a loved one who did not “fit” into traditional health systems: adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury and other debilitating disorders. The diagnoses were different, but the families shared common challenges: isolation, lack of information, few community resources, and changes in family roles.

The task force’s early efforts had three lasting results: the formation of Family Caregiver Alliance; the genesis of California’s statewide network of Caregiver Resource Centers; and the beginnings of a national movement to recognize the immense contribution of family caregivers to the long-term health care of the ill and elderly in our country.

Programs and Services

Our services, education programs, and resources are designed with caregivers’ needs in mind and offer support, tailored information, and tools to manage the complex demands of caregiving. They include:

FCA CareNav is a secure online solution for quality information, support, and resources for family caregivers. Anyone from anywhere can receive tailored information and resources by answering an online questionnaire and receive follow-up by FCA staff.

Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center serves the six-counties of San Francisco Bay Area that houses our professional staff who work closely with families caring for adults with adult-onset cognitive impairments and chronic health conditions. The agency has multiple contracts for direct services and supports that include: assessment and care planning, emotional support options, training on care conditions and direct care assistance, legal/financial consultation, respite services, support groups and other supportive services. Caregivers have access to their information within their CareNav personal client record.

Services By State helps caregivers locate support services across the U.S.

National Center on Caregiving unites research, policy, and practice to advance the development of high-quality, cost-effective programs and policies for caregivers in every state. We work collaboratively with other organizations to promote services and policies and serve on numerous national advisories connected with projects that focus on unpaid family caregivers.

Our Mission and Values

The mission of Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is to improve the quality of life for family caregivers and the people who receive their care.

Values

Respect
We believe caregivers, their relatives/friends who need assistance and their extended families should be the decision makers in care.

Options
We are committed to increasing the range of choices available to families to suit their particular situations.

Quality
We are committed to quality and to providing the best of what’s available, through timely, prompt service, well-trained staff and up-to-date information.

Innovation
We strive to be a knowledge organization, developing or incorporating new service models and creating partnerships between research and service.

Diversity
We are committed to serving the diverse and changing population of caregivers.

Collaboration
We form partnerships with other organizations and agencies to further our mutual aims.

Efficiency
We seek to use our resources to the fullest, waste nothing and stand ready to account for what we do.