March 17, 2025
Working Together With Family Caregivers After Move-In
Family caregivers aren’t just visitors—they’re partners in care.
In this Senior Living Minute, Carrie Aalberts explains why senior living professionals must see family caregivers as valuable members of the care team—not just during the move-in process, but throughout the resident’s journey. By providing ongoing support, communication, and resources, communities can strengthen relationships and improve the experience for residents, families, and staff alike.
Learn why collaborating with family caregivers leads to better outcomes for everyone involved.
Transcript: Working Together With Family Caregivers After Move-In
As an industry, we must start seeing family caregivers as partners. They are not just loved ones—they are experts in their own right and play a valuable role in the care team.
In training, we are taught to bring the family in, ask about their loved one’s preferences, and gather information. But after move-in, too often, we write them off—unless they are constantly present and advocating for attention.
The truth is, family caregivers enter these situations with no rulebook. Instead of seeing them as outsiders, we should support, uplift, and equip them with resources. The more we intertwine family caregivers into our industry, the stronger we become.
Many of us in senior living are also family caregivers, and we are starting to speak up. When we work together rather than against each other, everyone benefits—especially the person who needs care. If we fail to collaborate, it becomes a mess, and the resident suffers the most.
The solution is simple: We must work together.