4th Biennial Conference on Caregiving Research
September 23-25, 2026 | Salt Lake City, Utah
The Family Caregiving Collaborative at the University of Utah College of Nursing is proud to host the 4th Biennial Conference on Caregiving Research. Connect with experts advancing caregiving research and practice.
Registration
The Registration & Hotel Reservation Hub for the 4th Biennial Conference on Caregiving Research is now open!
Registration and Hotel Reservation Hub now open!
We look forward to welcoming you to Utah for the 4th Biennial Caregiving Conference! The conference will be held at the Salt Lake City Marriott City Center, located downtown Salt Lake City with walking distance to shopping & nightlife and close to Temple Square, Delta Center, Gallivan Plaza, Salt Palace Convention Ctr, and the State Capitol.
Conference Rates:
Registration Fee for 3-Day Conference (General Admission): $650
Registration Fee for 3-Day Conference (Post-Doc): $375
Registration Fee for 3-Day Conference (Student): $200
Registration for 1-Day: $225/ Day Wednesday or Thursday; $200 Friday
Hotel Information:
The designated conference hotel is the Salt Lake City Marriott City Center, located at 220 South State Street in Salt Lake City, UT.
The conference has generated a great deal of interest, and our hotel room block is currently at full capacity. We invite you to explore these nearby hotels, all conveniently located near the conference venue:
- Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City
(Address: 15 W. 200 South, Approximate Walk: 5–6 minutes) - Peery Hotel
(Address: 110 W. Broadway, Approximate Walk: 7–9 minutes) - TownePlace Suites Salt Lake City Downtown
(Address: 135 W. 200 South, Approximate Walk: 7–9 minutes) - Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
(Address: 170 S. West Temple, Approximate Walk: 8–10 minutes) - Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown
(Address: 206 S. West Temple, Approximate Walk: 8–10 minutes)
Conference Registration and Cancellation Policy:
- Cancellations received on or before August 23 will receive a full refund, minus a $75 administrative fee.
- Cancellations received between August 24 and September 9 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be issued after September 9.
- Registrations may be transferred to another individual at no cost until September 20.
Conference Code of Conduct
This conference is committed to providing a professional, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants. Harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. By registering, you agree to conduct yourself in accordance with these expectations.
The Caregiving Conference Whova App is Now Available to Download.
The Whova app will help you stay informed, organized, and connected throughout the conference. Once downloaded, many features can be accessed without Wi-Fi or cellular data. The app will be your go-to resource throughout the conference for the latest schedule updates.
With the app, you can:
- View the most up-to-date full conference program
- Receive important announcements and schedule updates
- Session locations
- Find session details and conference presenters
- Information about our generous sponsors
- Create your personalized agenda
- Connect and engage with fellow conference attendees
Download the app today and start exploring!
*Please use the same email address you used for your conference registration to sign in to the app. If you receive a message requesting an invitation code, you may be signing in with a different email address. If you’re unsure which email address you used or need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us at fcc@nurs.utah.edu
The 2026 biennial conference will be held September 23-25 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Marriott City Center with the Secondary Data Analysis Training Workshop occurring on September 22. The venue includes ADA accessibility features for their meeting spaces, parking areas, and guest rooms. Care.com, Sittercity, and Bear-O Care are the University of Utah’s recommended resources for locating local vetted caregivers for children, elders, pets, and individuals with special needs. We are committed to providing a safe and respectful conference and training workshop.
Take the Scenic Route - September is a beautiful time with its fall foliage at peak colors making it perfect for scenic drives and hikes! Popular areas to see fall foliage include the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Nebo Loop Road.
Visit the Mighty 5 - Utah is well-known for being home to five national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.
Don't forget to add these free and/or inexpensive experience to your travel agenda!
- Hill Aerospace Museum
- Utah State Capitol
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Park City Main Street Historic District
- Temple Square
- Bonneville Salt Flats
- City Creek Shopping Center
- Gardner Village
- Natural History Museum of Utah
- Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00 | BREAKFAST: Networking Breakfast |
| 8:00-8:15 | WELCOME: Lee Ellington, PhD |
| 8:15-9:15 | KEYNOTE: Caregiving as a Critical Part of the Long-Term Care System, Alison Barkoff, J.D. |
| 9:15-9:55 | PLENARY: The Value of Caregiving: Economic Perspectives, Norma B. Coe, PhD |
| 9:55-10:10 | BREAK: Refresh and recharge |
| 10:10-11:20 | PANEL: Current State and National Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities for Supporting Caregivers |
| 11:20-12:10 | PANEL: Emerging Lessons from the CMS GUIDE Model Implementation |
| 12:10-1:30 | LUNCH: On Your Own |
| 1:30-3:00 | BREAKOUTS: Selected Abstracts and Symposia |
| 3:00-3:15 | BREAK: Coffee and Conversation |
| 3:15-3:55 | PLENARY: Capturing Daily Dynamics in Latino Dementia Caregiving Using Intensive Longitudinal Methods, Frank Puga, PhD |
| 3:55-4:40 | PANEL: Voices from the Field: Caregivers' Insights into the Caring Experience |
| 4:40-5:15 | INTERACTIVE: End-of-Day Synthesis and Call to Action, Courtney Van Houtven, PhD, MSc |
| 5:15-6:30 | POSTERS: Poster Session |
| 6:30 | DINNER: On Your Own |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00 | BREAKFAST: Networking Breakfast + Emerging Scholar Breakfast with Experts |
| 8:00-8:15 | WELCOME: Erin Kent, PhD |
| 8:15-9:30 | PANEL: Role of the Research Community in the National Strategy |
| 9:30-10:10 | PLENARY: Rural Aging: Implications for Caregiving, Carrie Henning-Smith, PhD, MSW, MPH |
| 10:10-10:30 | BREAK: Refresh and recharge |
| 10:30-11:30 | PANEL: Integration of Caregiver Support Programs in Healthcare Delivery Systems |
| 11:30-12:00 | PLENARY: Stories That Shape Research: Grandparent Caregiving Across Generations and Worlds, Schola Matovu, PhD, RN |
| 12:00-1:30 | LUNCH: On Your Own |
| 1:30-3:00 | BREAKOUTS: Selected Abstracts and Symposia |
| 3:00-3:15 | BREAK: Coffee and Conversation |
| 3:15-4:30 | PANEL: Integrating Spiritual Care for Support of Family Caregivers |
| 4:30-5:10 | INTERACTIVE: End-of-Day Synthesis & Call to Action, Ranak Trivedi, PhD |
| 5:15-6:30 | POSTERS: Poster Session |
| 6:30 | DINNER: On Your Own |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00 | BREAKFAST: Networking Breakfast |
| 7:45-9:00 | POSTERS: Poster Session + Drawing |
| 9:00-10:15 | BREAKOUTS: Selected Abstracts & Symposia |
| 10:15-10:30 | BREAK: Refresh & recharge |
| 10:30-10:45 | WELCOME: Megan Thomas Hebdon, PhD, DNP, RN, NP-C |
| 10:45-11:45 | PANEL: Caregiving Research Funding |
| 11:45-12:00 | CLOSING: Conference Wrap-Up, Lee Ellington, PhD |
| 12:00+ | DEPART: Safe Travels! |
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Lee Ellington, PhD
(Chair)
University of Utah
Erin Kent, PhD
(Co-Chair)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Heidi Donovan, PhD, RN
(Past Chair)
University of Pittsburgh
Christine Moua, M.Ed
University of Utah
Julie Klinger, MA
University of Pittsburgh
Kelly Tan, PhD, RN
University of Pittsburgh
Lynn Reinke, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, FPCN, ATSF
University of Utah
Megan Thomas Hebdon, PhD, DNP, RN, NP-C
University of Utah
Ranak Trivedi, PhD, FGSA, FBSM
Stanford University
Hillary Lum, MD, PhD
University of Colorado
Beth Fields, PhD, OTR/L, BCG
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Julie Bidwell, PhD, RN
UC-Davis
Katherine Ornstein, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Leader Sponsors
Conference Sponsors & Partners
