When a loved one is facing a serious illness, extended hospital stay, or long-term health challenge, keeping everyone informed can become a full-time job. CaringBridge.org helps lighten that load by providing one secure place to share updates with family and friends.
Founded in 1997, CaringBridge is a donor-supported nonprofit that offers a FREE health communication platform. Caregivers can post updates, control who sees them, and keep everyone informed without making repeated phone calls, sending dozens of texts, or writing multiple emails. Friends and family can respond with encouraging messages and even coordinate practical help such as meals, transportation, errands, or household tasks.
Pros
- Free to use
- Private updates shared only with those you choose (unless you choose the public setting)
- Reduces repetitive phone calls, texts, and emails
- Makes it easy for others to offer encouragement and practical support
- Creates a timeline of the health journey for future reference
- Helpful online support resources
Cons
- Account holder must remember their login credentials (user name and password) to update with new posts
- Initial setup takes some time, especially when adding contacts for private updates
- Setup requires following a few instructions to be sure family and friends receive email notifications of posted updates; may require a bit of trial and error at times, but well worth the time for an extended health journey
Several ACAP team members have used CaringBridge during family health crises and found it to be an excellent way to stay connected, organized, and supported. For caregivers managing an ongoing health journey, it's a simple tool that can save time while strengthening a family's support network.
Check out the site at https://www.caringbridge.org/.