The Future of Care at Home Is Already Here

Every November, we take time to recognize the millions of family caregivers who show up every day for someone they love. But as I think about National Family Caregivers Month this year, I keep coming back to something bigger. Family caregivers aren’t just part of the story of care at home. They are part of its future. 

Across the country, family caregivers are helping loved ones remain safe, independent, and connected to the place they most want to be: home. According to AARP, about 63 million Americans, nearly 1 in 4 adults, now provide ongoing care for a loved one. They provide daily support, reassurance, and continuity. But they do so much more than preparing meals or assisting with bathing. Family caregivers notice changes in health, coordinate appointments, advocate for needs, and often spot concerns before anyone else. While much of this work happens quietly, its impact is enormous. 

In many ways, the future of care at home is already here. It exists in homes and communities across the country, where family caregivers take on responsibilities that once occurred almost exclusively in clinical settings. Every day, they are demonstrating what’s possible when care is grounded in knowledge, commitment, advocacy, and love.  

Throughout my nursing career, I watched family caregivers do remarkable things. I taught family members how to manage IV pumps and change medication cartridges along with providing wound care, medication management, colostomy care and more. These weren’t easy tasks, but I watched caregivers learn, grow more confident and take an active role in their loved one’s care. Often these skills helped make it possible for their loved ones to remain at home rather than move to a skilled nursing facility.  

They became experts in their loved one’s routines, medications, symptoms, preferences, and goals. Time and again, I saw caregivers step into these responsibilities not because they were trained to do so, but because someone they loved needed them. 

That understanding became deeply personal when my own family was caring for my father. While many people played a role in supporting him, it was my niece who took on the responsibilities of being his family caregiver. She knew his routines, understood his needs, advocated on his behalf, and was there day after day in ways that gave our entire family peace of mind. Knowing that someone who truly knew and loved him was helping manage his care lifted a tremendous burden. That experience reinforced what I had long believed as a nurse.  Family caregivers know the person behind the diagnosis. 

This National Family Caregivers Month, I hope every family caregiver takes a moment to recognize the impact they make each day. The work is not always easy. It can be demanding, emotional, and at times overwhelming. Yet every day, millions of caregivers continue to show up for the people who depend on them. They provide comfort during difficult moments, advocate when it matters most, and make it possible for loved ones to remain at home and in their communities. 

At Careforth, we know family caregivers need support, too. They shouldn’t have to figure everything out on their own, and they deserve to feel confident in the care they provide. The caregiver and the person receiving care are our reason for being and will remain our true north. The choices we make should help caregivers feel seen, supported, and confident that they are not navigating this journey alone. This National Family Caregivers Month, we’re reminded of how important it is to recognize and support the millions of caregivers who make care at home possible. 

The future of care at home is already here. It is being built by family caregivers whose dedication, strength, and compassion make better care at home possible every day. 

About the author:

Tammy Peebles-Forrest is President of Careforth. A nurse by background, she has spent her career supporting patients and the families who care for them at home. With over 30 years of leadership experience in home health and healthcare operations, she is a seasoned executive with a track record of leading growth, strengthening operations, and building high-performing organizations focused on delivering quality care at scale.