AARP, United Way Worldwide expand 211 Caregiver Program to Alabama, unlocking critical support for millions of family caregivers
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Special to the News
Millions more family caregivers in Alabama and across the country now have easier access to critical support, thanks to a major expansion of the Caregiver Support Program from AARP and United Way Worldwide.
Originally launched in 2021, this groundbreaking initiative connects family caregivers to essential services for themselves and their loved ones via the 211 helpline.
On June 30, AARP and United Way Worldwide announced the program’s expansion into 10 new states – Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Missouri, and Illinois, and Puerto Rico – bringing the total number of states served to 25 and Puerto Rico.
Existing participating states include Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, with regional service in parts of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas.
Since launching in 2021 through March 2025 the program has already helped more than one million caregivers connect to the services and support they need.
“Caring for parents, spouses and other adult loved ones is a labor of love – but it can also be a tremendous challenge,” said Candi Williams, AARP Alabama state director. “Through this expansion of 211, we’re making it easier for family caregivers to find the help they need, when and where they need it.”
With nearly 770,000 Alabamians currently caring for an adult loved one – often without pay, training, or support – the need for accessible, trusted help has never been greater.
The 211 helpline – a free, 24/7 and confidential service offered in 180 languages that connects people to health and human resources in one’s area – now offers even more comprehensive assistance for caregivers, thanks to this expanded collaboration between AARP and United Way Worldwide.
By simply dialing 211, caregivers are connected with trained Community Resource Specialists in their own communities that can help match caregivers with:
- Local referrals for transportation, food delivery, home safety, respite care, veterans’ benefits, and more
- Support to address the caregiver’s own basic needs, like housing, employment, or emotional support
- Simplified access to relevant AARP caregiving tools and guides across a range of specialized topics
AARP and United Way Worldwide created the Caregiver Support Program to address the number one need for the nation’s 48 million family caregivers: navigating the system to find relevant caregiving resources and local support.
This program helps family caregivers get the resources and support they need through the 211 network, a free helpline providing the most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services in the country.
The Caregiver Support Program is designed to help under-served caregivers recognize their vital role and access support. Through personalized, one-on-one conversations with trained and compassionate 211 Community Resource Specialists, caregivers receive tailored AARP resources that cover a wide range of topics, along with direct connections to local services.
The program takes a holistic, “whole person” approach, addressing not only caregiving-related concerns, but also the challenges with meeting basic needs many caregivers face, such as housing, utilities and food assistance. While these issues prompt their call, they are often tied to the underlying demands of caregiving.
Many caregivers don’t self-identify with the term “caregiver” when caring for a loved one – whether that be children or elderly adults – resulting in many missing out on vital support systems. The Caregiver Support Program is designed to break through that barrier, especially in communities where resources are harder to access.
For more information or to connect with a 211 specialist, visit www.aarp.org/211care. To learn about the latest 211 Impact Survey data, visit: www.unitedway.org/211data.
