Support Caregivers
Caregiving for someone with a brain injury, dementia, Parkinson's, PTSD, or FND is not a single job. It is a continuous set of decisions made under pressure, often without adequate information, sleep, or support. This hub is built for the person doing that work.
Robbins Nest Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by a caregiver. Every resource here is free or low-cost, peer-reviewed where it counts, and written in plain language for families, not clinicians.
The Caregiver's Medical Binder — $19.99
A complete organizational system for families navigating brain injury, dementia, Parkinson's, PTSD, FND, and other neurological conditions. Built by a caregiver for caregivers.
Covers your full medical team, current medications, diagnoses, lab results, appointment notes, daily observations, follow-up questions, and an emergency quick-reference page. Instant digital download. Print as many copies as you need.
Digital download. Educational use only. Not medical advice.
Caregiver education library
Understanding the diagnosis
Condition-specific guides for caregivers navigating dementia, brain injury, memory, personality changes, and neurological decline.
Managing the daily work of caregiving
Routines, safety, documentation, communication, and medical appointment preparation for families carrying the load every day.
Caregiver emotional health
Burnout, grief, boundaries, and the emotional weight of long-term caregiving. Research-backed guidance for the person who keeps going.
Veteran and military family caregiving
Resources for families navigating TBI, CTE, PTSD, and neurological conditions in veterans and service members.
From the Nest, every Wednesday
Peer-reviewed brain injury education, caregiver tools, and real-life guidance delivered to your inbox. Free, always.
VA and veteran caregiver programs
Veterans navigating TBI, PTSD, CTE, and neurodegenerative conditions present a clinical picture more complex than most civilian caregiving resources address. These are verified programs.
VA Caregiver Support Program
Financial assistance, respite care, and mental health support for eligible caregivers of veterans.
caregiver.va.govPsychArmor: Invisible Wounds at Home
Free five-course pathway covering PTSD, TBI, depression, and substance use as they appear in veteran households. No VA enrollment required.
Access the pathway at PsychArmorVA Long Beach Caregiver Support
RNA's established partner at Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center. Direct caregiver support services for Southern California veteran families.
VA Long Beach Caregiver SupportElizabeth Dole Foundation
National advocacy and support network for military caregivers. Resources, community, and research specific to veteran family caregiving.
elizabethdolefoundation.orgFinancial resources for caregivers
These organizations provide verified financial assistance, respite programs, and aid. RNA has no financial relationship with any of them.
Family Caregiver Alliance
Grants, financial aid programs, and caregiver services nationwide.
caregiver.orgBenefitsCheckUp
Free tool to find discounts, aid programs, and benefits your family may qualify for.
benefitscheckup.orgAARP Family Caregiving Center
Free guides, state program directories, and caregiving tools.
aarp.org/caregivingBrain Injury Association of America
State affiliate network, caregiver resources, and advocacy for families navigating TBI.
biausa.orgCommunity and real-talk resources
Caregiving is isolating in specific ways that people outside it do not fully understand. These sections of the RNA site exist for the days when information is not what you need.
- Morning Coffee with Heather — Short, honest check-ins. No performance, no wellness talk.
- Heatherisms — Unfiltered caregiver observations. Dark humor permitted.
- The Nesting Journal — Personal narrative from inside a caregiving household managing CTE, Parkinson's, PTSD, and FND simultaneously.
- Share Your Story — For when you need to be heard without having to package it.
Explore condition learning paths
Brain Injury 101
Foundational brain injury education covering symptoms, cognitive changes, and what families need to understand first.
Explore Brain Injury 101 →Condition hubDementia: A Caregiver's Learning Path
Types of dementia, progression, communication strategies, and caregiver guidance across all stages.
Explore Dementia →Condition hubCTE and Repeated Head Impacts
The science of cumulative brain trauma, CTE stages, and what the research shows about long-term risk.
Explore CTE →Condition hubFunctional Neurological Disorder
What FND is, why it is misunderstood, and how caregivers can support someone through flares and daily symptoms.
Explore FND →Condition hubConcussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome
What happens after a concussion, why symptoms persist, and what families need to know about recovery.
Explore Concussion →Condition hubParkinson's Disease
Symptoms, progression, daily caregiving, cognitive changes, and caregiver emotional health for families navigating Parkinson's disease.
Explore Parkinson's →