genus perspective
Finding local support that fits your family
The September 2024 federal caregiver strategy progress report kept culturally appropriate support among its goals. Our perspective turns that commitment into questions families can ask when exploring a local service.
What we found in the report
The September 2024 federal caregiver strategy progress report (opens in a new tab) describes work toward a national support system for family caregivers. One goal explicitly includes:
“culturally appropriate caregiver services and supports”
— 2024 Report to Congress, Outcome 3.1
This is a policy goal within an implementation report. It does not mean that every community already has the services each family needs. That distinction matters when a promising resource becomes an actual phone call, visit or application.
Why this matters to us
A service may have an opening and still be difficult for a family to use. Perhaps its hours conflict with work. Perhaps the information arrives in a language the older person does not comfortably read. Perhaps a family is unsure whether a familiar food, faith practice or way of communicating will be respected.
At genus, we see useful connection as more than passing along a directory entry. People need enough information to decide whether a next step is realistic.
Culture is part of this conversation, but it should never become a shortcut for assuming what someone wants. Two members of the same family may have different preferences. The person receiving support should have room to describe their own.
Ask about one real day
Our suggestion is to describe a typical day before asking whether a service fits.
For example, explain when the person usually wakes, how they prefer to communicate, what transport is available and which part of the day the family needs help with. Then ask specific questions:
- Can someone explain the service in the person’s preferred language?
- Which daily preferences can the team accommodate?
- What happens if transport or the usual caregiver’s schedule changes?
- What costs, eligibility requirements or waiting periods should the family understand?
Ask for clarification when an answer sounds broad. “We welcome everyone” is encouraging; an explanation of how a particular need would be handled is more useful for planning.
Keep a short comparison of the answers that matter most to the person. Include what remains uncertain and who will follow up. A family can then make a considered choice without treating the first referral as the only possible option.
The genus connection
Today, the genusConnect Care App (opens in a new tab) supports enabled conversations, events and tasks for invited community members. Features and access depend on the organization’s configuration.
A family can use an agreed conversation or task to organize questions and follow-up responsibilities around a local resource. The provider still needs to confirm its services and availability. Our mission connection is helping people turn information into a practical, respectful next step.
One question to take away
What would a provider need to understand about your family’s ordinary day before you could judge whether its support fits?
Supporting references
- 2024 Report to Congress: Federal Implementation of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (opens reference preview; direct link opens in a new tab)
Administration for Community Living
September 2024 progress report from the federal caregiving advisory councils; describes activities and goals, including culturally appropriate services under Outcome 3.1.
