Family caregivers can provide intense and complex care that requires them to learn how to perform difficult medical and nursing tasks. Education and other supportive services can be important tools to assist caregivers of Medicaid enrollees with long-term needs, promote better care, and potentially delay admission to higher levels of care. State Medicaid home- and community-based waivers can provide information, counseling, and training to family caregivers of beneficiaries.

This map shows the landscape of education, training, and counseling services for family caregivers of older adults and people with physical disabilities in Medicaid 1915(c) and/or 1115 waivers.

In 2025, twenty-six states covered education, training, and/or counseling services in these waivers. Some states use expansive definitions of unpaid caregiver beyond immediate kin relationships but also specify that paid caregivers are not eligible for the services. Most of the states included, at minimum, some form of caregiver training, with many making both training and counseling services available.

States differ broadly on training that can be provided, from training on treatment regimens, diet, and equipment, to coaching on health conditions. Counseling services range from support on building coping strategies to maintain well-being to support groups and caregiver coaching.

This National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) interactive map and chart is supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation.