AARP and United Way Worldwide Expand 211 Caregiver Program to Nebraska

Family caregivers in Nebraska and across the nation now have easier access to vital support, thanks to the expanded Caregiver Support Program from AARP and United Way Worldwide. This groundbreaking initiative connects caregivers to essential services for themselves and their loved ones through the 211 helpline. Since its launch in 2021, the program has already supported over one million caregivers. Now available in 25 states and Puerto Rico—including the recent addition of Nebraska—it reaches 36% of the U.S. population and an estimated 14.6 million family caregivers.

“Caring for a parent, spouse, or other loved one is truly a labor of love, but it also comes with significant challenges,” said Todd Stubbendieck, State Director of AARP Nebraska. “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 179,000 Nebraskans currently caring for a loved one—often without pay, training, or support—the need for accessible, trusted help has never been greater. The 211 helpline is a free, 24/7, and confidential service offered in 180 languages that connects people to local health and human services. 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 underserved 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/NEcaregiving. To learn about the latest 211 Impact Survey data, visit: www.unitedway.org/211data.

*Disclaimer: Any information you provide 211 will be governed by its privacy policy.