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Communicating Effectively Workshops


Family caregivers receive no formal training on how to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals. Yet we are the backbone of our healthcare
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system, providing over 80% of all home care services for chronically ill, disabled or aged loved ones. We are rarely recognized as members of the healthcare team, nor are we provided the training, support, and respect we need and deserve. That's why NFCA created the Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals program.

The workshops teach family caregivers to improve how you communicate with healthcare professionals. The goal is to learn how to get the answers you need from each office visit, what to ask when medications are prescribed or tests are recommended, and much more. The more knowledgeable and confident you are as a healthcare consumer the better you will be able to advocate on behalf of your loved one and yourself.

NFCA has trained workshop leaders from around the country to use the Communicating Effectively curriculum and present workshops for family caregivers like you in local communities. More than 550 workshop leaders have been trained and more than 10,000 family caregivers have already attended Communicating Effectively workshops.

Click here to find out if there is a family caregiver workshop coming to a community near you and if not, you can read the Communicating Effectively Curriculum.

Medical Record Form - NFCA also recommends family caregivers keep track of all the medications, including over-the-counter, vitamins and supplements. Developed by medical experts in collaboration with the SOS Rx coalition, it is an important tool for family caregivers to use in order to communicate effectively with health care professionals.

If you would like more information please contact:

Christal Willingham, Project Coordinator, at (301-942-6430) or
Christal.Willingham@thefamilycaregiver.org.


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