Caregivers surround Family & Nursing Care Founder, Sandy Kursban

At Family & Nursing Care, recognizing and celebrating Caregivers is a tradition that reflects one of our core values. This year, we were thrilled to host several appreciation events in our areas of operation for Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania caregivers, creating opportunities to connect, share gratitude, and enjoy time together.

The celebration began on Wednesday, June 11, with nearly 500 attendees gathering at Smokey Glen Farm in Gaithersburg, Maryland, for the annual Caregiver Appreciation Picnic. Caregivers, their families, and Family & Nursing Care staff enjoyed a full day of delicious food — from BBQ favorites to traditional West African dishes — along with ice cream, games, music, a video booth, face painting, raffles, and more. The picnic provided the perfect setting to honor the compassion and commitment that Caregivers bring to their work.

The next day, on June 12, Caregivers who couldn’t attend the picnic were invited to a Caregiver Appreciation “Pop-In” Open House at our Silver Spring office. This event offered a chance to stop by, enjoy a snack, pick up a gift, and chat with Family & Nursing Care staff and fellow Caregivers.

Later in the summer, we extended these celebrations to more communities, hosting regional appreciation events in Central Maryland and Philadelphia. These gatherings brought the same spirit of gratitude and connection closer to where some Caregivers live and work.

Together, these events underscored Family & Nursing Care’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the incredible individuals who make a difference in the lives of clients and their families every day.

The United States is in the midst of a historic demographic shift. According to recent U.S. Census data, between 2020 and 2024, the number of adults aged 65 and older grew by 13%, while the population under age 18 declined by 1.7%. Perhaps even more striking: 11 states now have more older adults than children — up from just three states in 2020.

This trend is reshaping families, communities, and the way our society must think about care. With fewer younger relatives available to provide support and more older adults choosing to age in place, the need for professional caregiving is growing at an unprecedented rate.

What This Means for Families and the Care Industry

As the ratio of older adults to younger caregivers continues to shift, many families are finding it increasingly difficult to balance the demands of work, parenting, and caring for aging loved ones. At the same time, older adults are expressing a strong preference to remain at home rather than move into long-term care facilities.

The result is a greater reliance on professional home care — not just as supplemental support, but as essential partners in ensuring quality of life, safety, and independence for older adults.

Why Home Care Matters More Than Ever

Home care offers families peace of mind, knowing that their loved ones can receive personalized, one-on-one assistance in the comfort of their own home. For older adults, this support ranges from help with daily activities and medication reminders to companionship and specialized care for conditions like dementia.

As the aging population expands, professional caregivers are filling a critical gap. Home care helps relieve the pressure on families, health systems, and communities — providing a sustainable, compassionate solution for a nation in demographic transition.

Family & Nursing Care: A Trusted Partner for Today and Tomorrow

At Family & Nursing Care, we recognize the challenges and opportunities this demographic shift brings. With more than 57 years of experience, we are uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand with responsive, compassionate, and highly coordinated services. Families can rely on us 24/7/365, knowing that we are always just a phone call away.

“The demographic trends are clear: we are moving into an era where professional caregiving will be central to how families support their loved ones,” said Jeff Zukerman, President of Family & Nursing Care. “Our role is to step in as a trusted partner, ensuring older adults can age with dignity while families can focus on their relationships, not just the responsibilities of care.”

As the number of older adults continues to rise, care planning has never been more urgent. Families who prepare today will be best positioned to navigate the future with confidence and peace of mind.

Learn more about how Family & Nursing Care can support your family by visiting our Home Care Services webpage.

At Family & Nursing Care, our mission is to help older adults age with dignity, comfort, and connection. That commitment extends to every aspect of our work and is at the heart of the Family & Nursing Care Foundation.

Since 2008, the Foundation has been a source of hope. It helps fund organizations that deliver essential home care for lower-income older adults, in addition to investing in the next generation of caregivers through scholarships for aspiring Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

$60,000 Awarded to Local Organizations

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our community partners, the Family & Nursing Care Foundation — a fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation — is awarding $60,000 in grants this year to local organizations committed to making home care accessible for those who need it most.

2025 grant recipients include:

• $20,000 to Home Care Partners
• $20,000 to Community Reach of Montgomery County
• $20,000 to the Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA)

Together, these grants will provide more than 7,000 hours of home care services, enabling low-income seniors to remain safely at home while receiving the compassionate support they deserve.

Supporting the Future of Caregiving

The Foundation also continues to invest in the future of home care through a $50,000 scholarship fund established in partnership with Montgomery College. Each year, $10,000 is awarded to students working toward their CNA license who have demonstrated both financial need and a passion for caregiving.

A Lasting Commitment

“As more older adults choose to age in place, the demand for quality home care — and the compassionate, skilled caregivers who provide it — continues to grow,” says Sandy Kursban, Founder of Family & Nursing Care and Chair of the Family & Nursing Care Foundation. “Our mission is twofold: to help low-income seniors access the care they need today and to support the education of the caregivers who will serve our community tomorrow. As we enter our 17th year, we’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue this important work and to see the lasting impact these grants will have.”

To read stories of those who have benefited from the Foundation’s work or to make a donation supporting next year’s grants, visit the Family & Nursing Care Foundation webpage.

The holiday season is a time for joy, traditions, and connections — but it can also bring extra demands, especially when caring for an older loved one. Whether you’re hosting family at home or traveling across the country, having a solid care plan in place can make all the difference in keeping the season stress-free.

Family & Nursing Care is here to help ensure your holiday plans run smoothly, so you can focus on celebrating with the people who matter most.

Why Planning Ahead Matters

Finding caregivers during the busy holiday season can be challenging. “Families often face the challenge of organizing holiday plans while making sure older loved ones are safe and supported,” says Kelly Ann Sharp, Director of Client Services at Family & Nursing Care. “High demand for caregivers, combined with unpredictable winter weather and an increased risk of falls, can make last-minute planning stressful. That’s why starting early is so important.”

Family & Nursing Care provides 24/7, 365-days-a-year support, regardless of the time of year. Sharp and fellow Director of Client Services, Natalie Blickman, recommend contacting your Client Services Manager as soon as your holiday plans are set.

“Planning ahead not only guarantees availability,” adds Blickman. “It also allows caregivers to tailor their schedules, activities, and support to match you or your loved one’s holiday traditions and routines.”

Tailoring Care for the Season

Home care is never one-size-fits-all. Our Client Services Managers work closely with clients and families to identify the right type and amount of support for the holidays.

Some clients keep their regular care schedule, while others request extra help to cover travel or special events. Examples of holiday-specific care include:

• Overnight care while a primary caregiver is away
• Mobility or companionship support during gatherings
• Transportation to and from holiday events
• Assistance with packing and travel arrangements
• Help with seasonal traditions, such as addressing holiday cards or preparing family recipes
• Companionship to ensure your loved one isn’t alone

“The holidays should be a time of connection and joy,” Sharp says. “We want families to be able to relax and enjoy the moment, knowing their loved one is in the hands of a caregiver who feels like part of the family.”

Getting Started

Clients can contact their Client Services Manager to discuss holiday schedules, special requests, and any questions. For families new to home care, the holidays are often when needs become more visible. “During gatherings, relatives may notice an older loved one could use a little extra help — whether that’s with daily activities, mobility, or simply having someone to share the season with,” says Blickman. “That’s when we step in to make the process easy and worry-free.”

To learn more about Family & Nursing Care’s holiday services and year-round support, visit our Home Care Services webpage.

On October 10, the world comes together to recognize World Mental Health Day, a time to reflect on the importance of mental well-being for people of all ages. With more than 1.4 billion people expected to be 60 or older by 2030, it is critical to acknowledge the unique mental health needs of older adults — and highlight the opportunities that come with aging.

The Connection Between Purpose and Mental Well-Being

While getting older may bring new challenges such as reduced mobility, chronic pain, or memory changes, it can also bring renewed purpose, joy, and deep personal fulfillment. Studies have consistently shown that having a sense of purpose is one of the most powerful factors for improving mental health. For older adults, this can mean:

• Staying engaged in hobbies or creative outlets
• Strengthening bonds with family and friends
• Maintaining daily routines that bring structure and joy
• Volunteering and supporting causes they are passionate about

Living with purpose helps older adults feel valued, connected, and empowered, which in turn supports both emotional and physical health.

The Role of Caregivers in Supporting Purpose

At Family & Nursing Care, we recognize that caregivers are essential partners in helping older adults live with purpose. Caregivers provide far more than assistance with daily activities, they also:

• Offer companionship that nurtures meaningful conversations and connections.
• Encourage engagement in activities and interests that bring happiness.
• Support mobility and independence, making it easier for clients to participate in the things that matter most to them.
• Create a sense of routine and stability that fosters comfort and peace of mind.

In many ways, caregivers help ensure that clients continue to experience fulfillment each day, even as life circumstances change.

Building a Future of Healthy Aging

Family & Nursing Care is committed to supporting older adults in living with meaning and dignity. To learn more about how caregivers can help clients maintain independence, engagement, and connection, visit our Mobility Assistance and Companionship webpages.

Across the country, the workplace is changing once again. Many companies — including federal agencies and private employers — are requiring employees to return to the office, either full time or on a hybrid schedule. For families who have been balancing work-from-home flexibility with caregiving responsibilities, this shift can create a ripple effect in their daily routines.

If you’ve been able to check in on an aging parent during lunch breaks or provide hands-on help throughout the day, the return to an in-office schedule may raise important questions:

• Who will be there during the day?
• Are current care arrangements still meeting your loved one’s needs?
• Will schedules or levels of support need to change?

At Family & Nursing Care, we understand that life circumstances evolve — and your home care plan should evolve with them. Whether you need to extend care hours, modify schedules, or increase support, our team can respond quickly to ensure your loved one continues receiving the highest level of personalized care, even as your own workday changes.

“Life is full of transitions, and we want families to know we’re here for them in every situation,” said Kelly Salb, Vice President, Client Services. “Whether it’s adjusting to a return-to-office schedule or coming home from the hospital, our goal is for families to feel confident knowing we can adapt care as their needs change — so their loved one is always safe, comfortable, and supported at home.”

Every family’s situation is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to navigating these changes. That’s why our team works closely with you to reassess needs, adapt schedules, and ensure you have the right support to meet your evolving circumstances.

If you’re facing a return to the office and wondering how it will impact your caregiving arrangements, we’re here to help you create a plan that works for everyone.

To learn more about our flexible services and how we can support your family during this or any transition, visit our Home Care Services webpage.

A powerful new PBS documentary, Caregiving, executive produced by Bradley Cooper, brings national attention to an often overlooked yet essential part of life in America: the care we provide for our loved ones. Through moving stories of both professional and unpaid family caregivers, the film reveals the emotional, physical, and financial challenges that come with caregiving — and the profound impact it has on families, communities, and our country as a whole.

The Growing Demand for Care

With 10,000 people turning 65 every day, and more than 5 million paid caregivers working in private homes and senior living communities across the U.S., the demand for high-quality care is rapidly growing. At the same time, between 53 million and 105 million adults — along with an estimated 5.4 million children — are providing unpaid care for family and friends. Caregiving sheds light on the fact that while the need for care is universal, the infrastructure to support it is still far from adequate.

“Caregiving is at the heart of what makes our communities strong,” says Sherry Peach-Walker, Vice President of Human Resources at Family & Nursing Care. “This documentary is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a person — someone’s parent, spouse, or child — and that the work caregivers do every day is nothing short of extraordinary.”

Lessons from History

From the disability rights movement of the 1970s to the national spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic, Caregiving traces how our country’s care systems have evolved — and the moments in history when they have fallen short. It highlights the resilience of caregivers who, despite systemic gaps, step up to ensure their loved ones can live with dignity and comfort.

How Family & Nursing Care Lives These Values

At Family & Nursing Care, these stories resonate deeply. For over 57 years, the company has been committed to providing access to caregivers that enable older adults to age safely in the place they love most — their own home. Whether it’s with daily activities, specialized dementia support, or companionship, professional caregivers make independence possible.

A Call for a Stronger Care Infrastructure

The documentary also calls for a stronger care infrastructure — one that includes fair wages for care workers and resources that help families navigate the caregiving journey. These are values we share at Family & Nursing Care, where caregivers are celebrated and supported to deliver the highest level of care.

We encourage you to watch Caregiving and share it with others to help keep the conversation going. The more we talk about caregiving, the closer we get to building the systems and support networks we all need. To learn more about Family & Nursing Care’s leading services, contact us or visit our Home Care Services webpage.