Supporting family caregivers: Variations in caregiving among families managing chronic health conditions.

Families nationwide experience major changes when their person is affected by a chronic health condition. This article champions the needs of biological, extended, and chosen family members (FMs) who provide caregiving, and urges the field to both understand the nuances of caregiving and tailor effective strategies for serving this often-overlooked group. We use three exemplar conditions-neurocognitive disorder, early psychosis, and substance use disorder-to compare the characteristics that influence family caregiving outcomes. We offer recommendations on ways to better serve both patients and their families by building research, practice, and policy. As the U.S. population grows, the prevalence of health problems will increase, and new generations of FMs will adopt the caregiving role. The demand for psychological services to support families will likely increase as well. Health care providers and other clinicians may face challenges in addressing the needs of families, especially for conditions for which multiple effects on caregivers is least understood. However, there is hope that ongoing research, education, policy, and awareness will better position the field to support these families moving forward. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).