WASHINGTON — Lutheran Services in America announces a new partnership with RRF Foundation for Aging (RRF) to launch Rural Caregiver Voices 2026: Elevating the Rural Caregiver Experience, a national initiative designed to uplift the lived experiences of family caregivers supporting older adults across rural and frontier communities. This project responds to a critical gap in the aging and caregiving landscape: the stories, challenges, and expertise of rural caregivers remain largely unheard in conversations shaping systems of care.
With generous support from RRF, the project builds on Lutheran Services in America’s Rural Aging Action Network (RAAN), a proven model that strengthens community leadership, innovation, and peer-to-peer learning in underserved rural communities. In partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), Rural Caregiver Voices 2026 will equip rural family caregivers with tools in storytelling, systems literacy, and leadership development, ensuring that those who shoulder the bulk of caregiving responsibilities in rural America have the skills and platforms to advance meaningful change.
“Family caregivers in rural communities play an extraordinary role in the health and well-being of older adults, and yet their lived experiences too often go unseen in decisions and discussions that impact their daily lives,” said Alesia Frerichs, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “Through this partnership with RRF Foundation for Aging, we are expanding the power of local leadership and elevating the expertise of rural caregivers whose voices are essential to designing equitable, responsive systems of support.”
“At RRF Foundation for Aging, we are committed to improving the quality of life for all older people, and that includes uplifting the experiences of those who care for them,” said RRF President and CEO Mary O’Donnell. “This partnership with Lutheran Services in America ensures that rural family caregivers—who often serve as the primary source of support for older adults aging in place—are better equipped, heard, and connected to conversations that shape the services and resources available to them.”
Through in-depth qualitative research, a two-day storytelling and mobilization workshop in Washington, D.C., and ongoing coaching by NAC, the project will identify and train rural family caregivers and aging leaders across Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota RAANs. Participants will engage directly with national leaders, share their stories, and contribute to a co-branded Rural Family Caregiver Framework that highlights the real-world challenges and opportunities facing rural caregiving communities.
About Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America, one of the nation’s largest networks of health and human service providers, is rooted in a century-long, faith-based commitment to service. Its 300 nonprofit organizations operate in 1,400 communities across 46 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, reaching more than 7 million people each year. Together, they improve outcomes for children, youth and families, support independence for older adults, champion meaningful services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and strengthen stability and purpose for veterans and others. Lutheran Services in America brings together a broad network of leaders, partners and stakeholders, connecting insights, elevating innovation, fostering collaboration, and shaping policies and practices that advance health and opportunity for all.
About RRF Foundation for Aging (RRF)
RRF Foundation for Aging seeks to improve the quality of life for older people through grantmaking, research, and thought leadership. RRF invests in innovative, forward-looking solutions that support older adults in aging with dignity, independence, and well-being. With a focus on equity and impact, RRF funds initiatives that strengthen caregiving, enhance economic security, and expand access to essential supports—particularly in communities facing persistent disparities. Learn more at www.rrf.org.