Next Step in Care provides easy-to-use guides to help family caregivers and health care providers work closely together to plan and implement safe and smooth transitions for chronically or seriously ill patients.

Transitions are moves between care settings, for example, hospital to home or rehab facility, or the start or end of home care agency services. Because transitions are often rushed, miscommunication and errors can occur.

Next Step in Care materials emphasize careful planning, clear communication, and ongoing care coordination.

In the Media

Andrea Chalupa’s Huffington Post blog explores family caregiver stress as a factor in the recent JetBlue flight attendant meltdown—featuring an essay by Carol Levine; and a Post-Journal column about health care-related websites prominently features the Next Step in Care, calling it a “wonderful” resource.

New Guide on Hospice and Palliative Care

The newest addition to the website is Family Caregiver’s Guide to Hospice and Palliative Care, available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian, and designed to help family caregivers understand their options at a difficult time in their family member’s care. One important feature is a table comparing hospice and palliative care.