NCOA and U. of Illinois to establish family caregiving research center

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) are establishing a new rehabilitation research and training center on family support thanks to a $4.3 million grant.

The five-year grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Administration for Community Living supports the development of the center, which will bring together experts in aging and disabilities to advance a coordinated vision for research, policy and practice to support family caregivers, according to a release

Family caregivers are the foundation of long-term services and support systems. More than 65 million family caregivers help approximately 12 million seniors and individuals with disabilities live at home and participate in the community, according to NCOA.

“This research will translate into policy and practice that strengthens the ability of caregivers to support their loved ones,” said Joe Caldwell, director of long-term services and support policy said at NCOA—which leads the Disabilities and Aging Collaborative that works to improve long-term services and supports.

Other collaborating partners on the center include Boston College, Brandeis University, University of Minnesota, Easter Seals, The Arc of the United States, Sibling Leadership Network, Association of University Centers on Disabilities and the National Alliance for Caregiving.