Supporting caregiver clients
In our daily work across healthcare, social services, education, and government, many of us regularly serve or come into contact with caregivers. Caregivers are the backbone of long-term care in Utah, but they often struggle to find help.
Utah uses a "No Wrong Door" approach to support caregivers. This means that no matter where a caregiver reaches out—whether to a doctor's office, state agency, school, or community nonprofit—professionals should be able to spot their needs, offer guidance, and connect them directly to local resources.
Key data: What Utah caregivers do every day
According to data from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving , 697,000 adults in Utah (almost 30% of all adults in the state) are supporting family members, friends, or neighbors with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or aging-related needs. They often support more than one person and carry heavy daily loads:
- 100% help with daily chores like meal prep, giving medicine, and managing household finances.
- 56% help with personal care like bathing, dressing, and eating.
- 44% perform complex medical and nursing tasks.
- 38% handle high-intensity caregiving (many hours with complex medical needs).
- 25% provide at least 40 hours of care per week—or constant, 24/7 care.
Why this matters: Caregivers are not just helpers; they are key partners in your client's health and safety. Supporting the caregiver helps keep everyone healthy and safe.
Key things professionals need to know
1. Experience the Caregiver Simulation.
Build empathy and understanding: The Caregiver Simulation is an interactive tool that lets professionals step into the shoes of a caregiver to experience their daily stress and sensory overload.
Speed up connections to care: Experiencing these real-life hurdles firsthand helps staff recognize caregiver burnout faster and understand how quickly connecting families to support can change outcomes.
2. Practice person-centered planning.
Focus on what matters: Person-centered planning builds care around a person's goals, strengths, choices, and vision for a good life.
Include the caregiver: Conversations should bring together the individual, their family/friend caregiver, and service providers to plan medical care, daily needs, and community support.
3. Treat caregivers as essential partners in care.
Listen to their insights: Caregivers know the patient's daily habits, preferences, and subtle health shifts better than anyone else. Involve them in care plan conversations and respect their input.
Offer clear instructions: Avoid complex medical jargon when explaining home treatments or medicine schedules. Provide simple, written instructions so caregivers feel confident providing care at home.
4. Screen for caregiver stress and burnout regularly.
Ask direct questions: Make a routine habit of asking caregivers simple check-in questions, such as "How are you holding up?" or "Do you feel like you have enough help at home?"
Offer early referrals: If a caregiver looks exhausted or overwhelmed, connect them immediately to respite programs, support groups, or counseling before a crisis happens.
5. Utilize primary referral tools.
211 Utah: This single access point connects people to over 10,000 social service programs across the state. You or your clients can reach 211 by phone, text, chat, email, or mobile app for free, one-on-one help.
Caregiving website: Use this dedicated online resource as a specialized referral tool to connect families directly with tailored caregiving support, educational materials, and local services. Keep checking back as we are adding resources all the time.
6. Recommend assistive technology early.
Build independence: The Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP) at Utah State University and the Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT) at the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation provide device trials, low-cost equipment loans, and funding to make home and work safer.
Educate the team: UATP and UCAT offer training for professionals, family members, and caregivers to help find the right tools for daily care and mobility.
7. Streamline logistics and office appointments.
Offer flexible scheduling: Whenever possible, allow caregivers to book telehealth visits or group appointments to save travel time and reduce missed workdays.
Reduce repetitive paperwork: Share medical records and intake forms across care teams so caregivers do not have to fill out the same forms repeatedly.
8. Connect with the Utah Caregiving Roundtable.
Collaborate statewide: The Utah Caregiving Roundtable brings together professionals, agencies, and community members to improve caregiver services and policies across the state.
Stay involved: Joining state roundtables and working groups helps your organization stay up to date on new tools and workforce training.
Remember: You might be the only professional who notices that a caregiver is struggling. By taking two extra minutes to check in on a caregiver and offer a direct referral, you can transform a family's health journey and prevent a crisis before it starts.
Identify early, connect always
Most people do not view themselves as "caregivers"—they just see themselves as a helpful daughter, son, spouse, parent, or friend. Because of this, they rarely ask for help until they are burned out or in the emergency room. Unsupported caregivers quickly become second clients.
How you can make a difference today
Ask the question: Start asking every patient or client about their support setup.
Spot the signs: Watch for warning signs of caregiver stress, such as missed appointments, fatigue, or overwhelming anxiety.
Make the warm handoff: Do not just hand a caregiver a flyer—walk them through resources like 211 Utah or state waiver applications so they do not fall through the cracks.
Champion the "No Wrong Door" goal: Ensure everyone in your office knows how to guide a caregiver to local community help.
Support the caregiver to protect the client: If a caregiver burns out or gets sick, you will suddenly have two people in crisis instead of one. Connecting caregivers to resources early keeps everyone safe.
Person-centered planning & simulation tools
Administration for Community Living's person-centered planning overview: Federal guidelines and training modules from the Administration for Community Living on how to run person-centered care planning.
Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities' person-centered services: Utah-specific guidelines and training resources for service providers working with people with disabilities and older adults.
LifeCourse Nexus' person-centered toolkit: Practical toolkits and visual frameworks to help families and providers map out goals and support needs.
Utah Parent Center's Guide for Families: A simple guide explaining person-centered planning so you can help families prepare for care meetings.
Community referrals & technology
Eplore this site's resource pages: Check out the other sections of this website to learn about available local programs, legal guides, and support tools for caregivers. Knowing what is on these pages helps you quickly guide clients to the right help.
Utah 211: Supported by United Ways of Utah, 211 connects professionals and families to local housing, food, mental health, and caregiver programs.
Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP): State program run out of Utah State University offering device demonstrations, equipment reuse, and low-interest loans for mobility gear and home tools.
Utah Center for Assistive Technology: Program out of the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation offering free consultations, device trials, and custom equipment modifications to help individuals with disabilities gain independence.
Professional training & networking
Utah Caregiving Roundtable: Statewide collaborative group where professionals share best practices, coordinate "No Wrong Door" care, and build inter-agency partnerships. To get involved, email Kate Nederostek at [email protected].
Caregiver Simulation training: Interactive training tool for healthcare providers and agency staff designed to simulate the sensory overload and daily struggles faced by caregivers, helping professionals build deeper empathy and make faster referrals. To experience, email Kate Nederostek at [email protected].
Utah Caregiver Training YouTube Channel: Video catalog featuring pre-recorded webinars, training modules, and professional development courses focused on caregiver awareness and support. COMING SOON!