Caregivers & Families

Caring for a child, teen, young adult, partner, or other loved one with chronic illness or complex medical needs can have an immense impact on daily life. Caregivers may find themselves managing appointments, medications, symptoms, school or work needs, insurance, advocacy, uncertainty, and the emotional needs of the entire family, often while continuing to meet responsibilities in other areas of their lives. Some caregivers are also living with chronic illness or disability themselves, making it especially important that their own health, limitations, identities, relationships, and need for support are recognized alongside the needs of the person they care for.

Caregiving can bring love, connection, meaning, grief, exhaustion, fear, frustration, and many other experiences at the same time. The resources below offer education, practical support, peer connection, and tools for caregivers and families navigating chronic illness, disability, rare disease, and complex medical care.

Raregivers
Emotional support, community, workshops, and resources specifically created for caregivers and families living with rare, chronic, and complex diseases. Their Emotional Journey Map explores the emotional experiences that can occur across different stages of living with and caring for someone with complex medical needs.

Family Voices of Minnesota
A Minnesota-based, parent-led organization supporting families raising children and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs. Families can connect with trained parent support navigators, parent-to-parent support, virtual groups, practical resources, and help navigating health care, education, financial supports, and community services.

Caregiver Action Network
A national organization offering free education, peer support, practical tools, and a Caregiver Help Desk for family caregivers. Resources address caregiver stress and well-being as well as the practical demands of caring for someone with chronic illness, disability, or rare disease.

Courageous Parents Network
Resources for parents and families caring for children with serious and complex medical conditions. Their materials address medical complexity, advocacy, family relationships, uncertainty, decision making, emotional well-being, grief, and the experience of caring for a child over time.

Rogers Behavioral Health – Virtual Parent and Caregiver Support Group
A free virtual support group for parents and caregivers. Rogers currently offers a Twin Cities virtual Parent and Caregiver Support Group on the third Tuesday of each month.

Caring for the Caregivers