This month's cover photo shows a nurse meeting with a patient and her family caregiver. Being the caregiver for a family member is an increasingly common experience for many Americans. According to a 2015 report by the AARP Public Policy Institute, an estimated 39.8 million Americans care for an adult, spending an average of 24.4 hours a week doing so. Approximately six in 10 caregivers report assisting with medical and nursing tasks, such as injections, tube feedings, and catheter care, but most have not received prior preparation or training.
A new series of articles in collaboration with the AARP Foundation, Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone, begins in this issue-and aims to help nurses offer the preparation most caregivers need. The series, along with accompanying videos caregivers can watch, advises nurses on how best to provide medication management education to family members who care for a loved one, 84% of whom say they could use more information or help on caregiving topics. To read the first article in the series, see "Managing Complex Medication Regimens" in this issue.-Diane Szulecki, Associate Editor