More than 63 million Americans serve as family caregivers, playing a vital role in safeguarding the health, dignity and quality of life of the people they support. Their care enables individuals to remain safely at home, easing the strain on the healthcare system while providing essential emotional stability and empathy.
Whether professional or informal, caregivers ensure the continuity of care that is essential for managing chronic conditions. Their contributions are not just meaningful, but invaluable to the healthcare ecosystem. Recognizing this importance, Axxess created Caregiver University as part of the Axxess Training and Certification Program. This free educational resource equips both professional and family caregivers with the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to deliver high-quality care in the home.
What is Caregiver University?
Caregiver University includes more than 50 courses focused on practical, non medical skills that make a meaningful difference in everyday caregiving.
“From day one, [Caregiver University] has really been looked at as a give-back to the industry, because it really fills a void that just doesn’t exist,” said Mike Carr, Senior Director of Training and Education at Axxess.
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from post-hospital care essentials and understanding Medicare to managing burnout, setting healthy boundaries and navigating complex family dynamics.
“The courses cover everything from estate planning to denture care,” said Carr. “It’s really trying to help those individuals who didn’t necessarily choose to be caregivers, know how to navigate the system.”
Caregiver University distinguishes itself from similar programs and resources by providing professionally developed content that is intentionally designed to be engaging and interactive to its users.
“It’s created by nurses and therapists who’ve provided skilled care and a lot of patient-family education,” Carr said. “We’ve put all that into a more engaging format.”
Improving Outcomes
For organizations focused on reducing hospital readmissions and improving patient outcomes, Caregiver University serves as a valuable resource to share with family members who take on caregiving responsibilities. In equipping these caregivers with the skills to recognize early changes in condition and respond appropriately, the training program helps prevent avoidable escalations that often lead to emergency visits or rehospitalizations.
“We have trainings on identifying changes in conditions, so that the caregiver isn’t waiting for the nurse to come back in say three days,” said Carr. “They’ll be a little more in tune to what things are supposed to look like and that will help with readmissions and also just the overall comfort of the caregiver.”
This education and heightened awareness not only boosts caregiver confidence but also supports the operational and clinical goals that matter most to care at home organizations.
Ultimately, in empowering caregivers with practical skills and confidence, Caregiver University strengthens the care at home industry. Organizations that embrace this resource not only support the caregivers they rely on, but also position themselves to deliver safer, more consistent care and achieve the improved outcomes today’s healthcare landscape demands.
To learn more about the Axxess Training and Certification platform, click here.