Categorizing national caregiver recommendations to support family caregivers and address unmet needs.

Background: Recognizing family caregivers as vital providers of long-term assistance to loved ones with chronic illness, several national organizations developed recommendations to improve support for family caregivers.

Purpose: This article categorizes these recommendations to advance family-centered nursing practice, develop health policies, and advocate for family caregiver support.

Methods: Six reports of caregiver recommendations published in the United States from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings: The 108 recommendations were organized into five categories: policy; caregiver assessment and support; health professional practices; public awareness; advance care planning.

Discussion: Ensuring economic security, establishing a national data collection strategy, addressing caregivers' diverse needs, improving access to health care and support services, and increasing public awareness were highlighted.

Conclusion: The recommendations provide a roadmap for nurses at all levels of practice to advocate for a national agenda to develop, fund, and implement inclusive health care policies and interventions to address unmet caregiver needs and maximize support.