One of the greatest challenges family caregivers face is taking care of themselves while providing care to another. Recognizing this, the ANA is working as part of a partnership to provide tools for nurses to assist family caregivers. CARE-Pro: the Administration on Aging (AOA) National Family Caregiver Support Program is being launched by the ANA, the American Occupational Therapy Association and the National Association of Social Workers. The American Society on Aging is managing the program, which will address support for caregivers.

As part of this project, ANA and its organizational partners have developed a series of Web-based audio seminars on "Meeting the Needs of Family Caregivers." The group decided to house the program on the Web after a survey of members of all three professional organizations indicated that registered nurses have access to the Internet both at work and at home, believe they are adept at using the Web and have taken part in distance learning.

The series will focus on an overview of the current state of family caregiving in the United States. Seminars will discuss the impact of changing population demographics and dramatic alterations in family structure and function on family caregiving, as well as how culture influences family caregiving patterns and practices. In addition, program models will be shared. Recognizing that involvement of family members in caregiving can be fluid, the seminars will emphasize the need for ongoing and accurate assessment and ethics and issues related to working with families. To register for the seminars, go to www.asaging.org/webseminars.

An overview session about the seminars will be held during the ANA convention on July 1 in Philadelphia. For more information on the ANA convention, go to www.nursingworld.org/conventn/2002.