Utah is strengthening support for family caregivers by expanding access to services, resources, and assistance through a coordinated No Wrong Door approach. By aligning governance, statewide partnerships, and digital resources, the state is building a more connected system to assist more than 450,000 Utahans who provide unpaid care to older adults and people with disabilities.

Strong leadership is advancing Utah’s No Wrong Door strategy, with the Governor regularly highlighting its importance through public statements and videos. The Family Caregiving Collaborative at the University of Utah, in partnership with the Utah Caregiving Roundtable, is aligning this work with the state's inaugural Master Plan on Aging, "Utah for the Ages,” helping to integrate caregiver support initiatives into broader statewide aging and long-term care priorities. This approach ensures that caregiving is recognized as a life-course phenomenon, cutting across all ages, diseases, and disabilities. By codifying these priorities through the Utah Commission on Aging, the state is coordinating federal, state, and community resources to elevate the role of family caregivers.

At the center of this approach is the development of caregiving.utah.gov, a comprehensive statewide gateway and hub for caregivers and professionals to access curated resources, programs, and evidence-based training for paid and unpaid caregivers. Utah plans to develop a professionally produced informational video series that combines animation and live actors, to help caregivers better understand key topics identified by the Utah Caregiver Roundtable, such as area agencies on aging, palliative care, and hospice care. Creative production will be managed by the Stark Science Learning Center at the University of Utah. To maximize broader application and dissemination, these videos will use neutral branding rather than Utah-specific branding, so that other states may use and adapt them to their own organizations.

A key part of this strategy is improving awareness and professional competency. Utah is implementing the "Life of a Caregiver" simulation model, an interactive experience that builds empathy and knowledge of available community services among health providers and the public. The model, first developed by James Madison University and then adapted and promoted by New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition, allows participants to experience the challenges and rewards of informal caregiving in order to highlight the critical need for caregiver empathy, advocacy, and a coordinated No Wrong Door system. Watch this video to learn more.

Utah is also leveraging technology-enabled coordination to simplify the client experience. The state is strengthening integration with 211, ensuring that caregiver-specific resources are searchable, accurate, and up-to-date. To break down traditional service silos, the Utah Caregiver Roundtable coordinates nearly 100 community-based organizations, fostering a unified advocacy strategy and shared tools like an interactive bill tracker and resource database.

By applying a life-course lens across these efforts, Utah is ensuring that its aging and disability networks function as a single, connected support system. This integrated approach allows Utah families to make informed decisions and exercise control over their long-term care needs, helping them and their care recipients age with dignity in their homes and communities.