Whether you’re new to caregiving or have years of experience caring for your loved one, caregiver training can make all the difference in the care you provide.
Updated September 14, 2022
Modified April 28, 2023
Why Caregiver Training Matters To Family Caregivers
Whether you’re new to caregiving or have years of experience caring for your loved one, caregiver training can make all the difference in the care you provide. Additionally, the skills and knowledge you learn can better prepare you for your role and make you more effective at preventing accidents, errors, injuries, and more.
With caregiver training, you learn new skills and enhance those you already have by learning about topics such as:
- Job responsibilities
- Handling emergencies
- Elder abuse and neglect
- Effective communication
- Providing end-of-life care
- Caring for stroke patients
- Coping with caregiver stress
- Managing difficult behaviors
- Nutrition and meal preparation
- Promoting exercise and mobility
- Safety, fall prevention, and first aid
- Managing and preventing infections
- Properly administering medications
- Measuring and documenting vital signs
- Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory care
- Personal care, toileting, and basic hygiene
- Supporting activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Keeping your loved one’s living environment clean, safe, and healthy
There is a course, certification, and webinar for every subject and every type of caregiver. So whether you’re an adult child caring for your aging parents or a certified caregiver, there’s something out there for you.
9 Online Family Caregiver Training Programs
Caregiver training is an excellent place to start if you’re helping prepare your parent for aging in place. This list includes both paid and free caregiver training programs to help you find your best fit.
Paid Caregiver Training Programs
The Caregiver Training University
Price: $59
The Caregiver Training University has several online courses for those seeking caregiver certification. However, these classes are equally helpful for family caregivers as well. These courses fulfill all industry standards and are accessible around the clock so that you can learn independently.
Besides basic caregiver responsibilities, Caregiver Training University also offers specialized training for:
- Renewal training
- Age-related illnesses
- Medicaid-approved home health aides
- Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients
- And more.
Universal Class
Price: $70 (no certificate) or $95 (with continuing education unit certificate)
Universal Class’s Caring for Seniors is a 15-course, 7-hour-long program covering common challenges caregivers face and information and tools to overcome them. Here, you’ll learn how to:
- Promote their safety
- Effectively care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s
- Keep your loved one motivated to follow their care plan
- Help your aging parents cope with a loss of independence.
Universal Class is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) as an Authorized Provider.
The Caregiver Training Company
Price: Contact the company for pricing details
With the Caregiving Training Company’s online senior care training program, you can learn how to adapt more efficiently to the ever-changing nature of your role. These courses address subjects such as:
- Ethics and conduct
- Professional etiquette
- Specialized caregiving
- Personal and mental wellness
Besides that, you can also access several educational and industry resources. And if you are a professional caregiver, this program can help you become a self-employed contractor.
As a caregiver, your schedule is jam-packed on any given day. But with the Caregiver Training Company course, you can study at your own pace. You’ll also receive a printed text version of webinar sessions and classes.
Free Caregiver Training Programs
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association provides a variety of free educational programs and dementia care resources for family caregivers, such as how to:
- Address the financial cost of caregiving
- Manage behaviors related to dementia
- Understand verbal and nonverbal communication from a loved one with dementia
- Talk to a loved one about driving, doctor’s visits, legal planning, and financial matters
Family Caregiver Alliance
If your free time is limited, but you still want to learn, the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is one of the best places to start. This organization offers resources, training, and more through various events and classes.
The FCA also provides over 40 free webinars for paid and unpaid caregivers. So if you are relatively new to caregiving, this resource can help you learn more about your role so you can meet future challenges confidently.
Additionally, you can learn how to plan for care, smoothly transition to daily caregiving, and recognize the warning signs of age-related disease.
The FCA also emphasizes self-care, which is vital to avoid caregiver burnout. If you visit the Webinar Library and FCA YouTube channel, you can find a variety of topics, including:
- Palliative Care 101
- Financial Assistance for Eldercare
- Closing the Gap: How to Care from Afar
- Five Tips for Improving a Difficult Caregiving Day
- Managing Mom’s Money: Understanding Financial Caregiving
- Keeping Your Family Member Moving and Engaged So They Can Remain at Home
The Veterans Administration
The VA’s Caregiver Support Program offers two caregiver training courses to support individuals caring for a loved one. You can take a single class within the available courses or participate in the complete six-week program.
You can sign up for Building Better Caregivers (BBC), which offers support with online educational workshops or Caregiver Self-Care. This four-course in-person program addresses managing stress and utilizing technology to maintain your care. Both courses provide you with a workbook and CD that can help refresh your skills whenever needed.
The Caregiver Action Network
The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is among the top resource for family and professional caregivers. It offers many tools and information to help you become a more skillful care provider.
For example, the Video Resource Center features practical advice from other caregivers as they share their stories and experiences. Many care for loved ones with chronic or terminal diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, COPD, or schizophrenia.
Additionally, CAN provides general educational videos to help provide better hands-on care, such as how to:
- Measure vital signs
- Turn and position in bed
- Assist with range of motion exercises
- Help with personal care tasks (i.e., bathing, toileting)
Home Sweet Care
Home Sweet Care’s Family Caregiver Education Program is a collaborative way to learn more about aging and how to engage with seniors. You can access more than 40 hours of free caregiver training covering subjects such as:
- Alzheimer’s memory loss
- Supporting independence
- Common chronic diseases
- Managing challenging behaviors and situations
- Communicating with someone with dementia
Home Sweet Care also features videos that teach you how to help someone choking, support elders suffering from chronic pain, and more. You can also find specialized instructional videos covering dementia care, establishing a relaxing and calm environment, and promoting a healthy diet.
Click this link to sign up for the Family Caregiver Education Program.
Generations Home Care
Generations Home Care developed the Family Learning Center with family caregivers in mind. This extensive 40-hour training program aims to alleviate family caregivers’ obligations through education and empowerment. Available course topics include:
- First aid
- End-of-life care
- Daily care skills
- Pain management
- Improving diet and nutrition
- Assessments and care planning
- How to manage challenging behaviors
- And many more.
Visit this page to create an account and access these videos for free.
MeetCaregivers Can Help
Whether you are a new family caregiver or have years of experience, you can never go wrong with caregiving training. Becoming knowledgeable about your role and expanding your skillset are the best things you can do to ensure your loved one receives the best care.
Of course, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for caregiver training. That’s because the best program fits your budget and needs. So if none of the options on this list work for you, you can find thousands of other videos, workshops, courses, and webinars online.
Do you need a little extra help with your loved one’s care? Or is it time for a respite break? If so, we can help. Our qualified in-home caregivers are prepared to meet all your loved one’s needs.
Call us at 1 (888) 541-1136 or Find A Caregiver to get support today.
Visit the Blog for more resources about caregiving and aging in place.
- Hipp, Deb. “Free Online Family Caregiver Courses and Training.” A Place for Mom, 26 Mar. 2019, www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/free-online-caregiver-courses
- “How to Find Caregiver Training as a Family Caregiver.” Caring Village, 25 July 2017, www.caringvillage.com/2017/07/12/find-caregiver-training/
- Stringfellow, Angela. 50 Best Courses & Training for Caregivers, 10 July 2018, www.seniorlink.com/blog/50-best-courses-training-for-caregivers-
- “Why Is Proactive Training Better Than Reactive Training?” Gill Staffing, 1 Nov. 2019, www.gillstaffing.com/blog/why-is-proactive-training-better-than-reactive-training