MADISON, Wis. — UW-Madison will launch the Badger Caregiving Clinic next week, offering free support and resources to address the growing needs of unpaid caregivers.

More than 60 million people nationwide and more than 1 million Wisconsin residents provide unpaid care to a family member or friend, according to the university.

The clinic will bring together UW-Madison students, faculty and staff from social and healthcare programs to provide hands-on support for caregivers.

“We believe caregivers are the backbone of our healthcare system, and too often they are invisible,” said Beth Fields, the clinic’s co-director and an associate professor of occupational therapy at the UW-Madison School of Education. “We are working to build a future in which caregivers are seen and empowered to promote the health of their family and friends—and themselves.”

The clinic will offer free, proactive caregiver support through in-person and telehealth services in a primary care setting. Services will be available to existing UW Health patients who receive care at the E Terrace Dr Medical Center.

UW Health patients who receive care at other locations, as well as people who are not UW Health patients, are not currently eligible for clinic services.

Services will include:

Emotional and social support resources

Take-home resources

Individualized caregiving plans

Education on caregiving best practices

“I’m excited we have a real opportunity to improve clinical education for future and current health professionals in the area of caregiving and to strengthen the workforce — the Wisconsin Idea in action,” said Jennifer Timm, the clinic’s co-director at UW-Madison’s Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education and a clinical associate professor at the UW-Madison School of Nursing.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research supported the clinic with funding from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, university officials said.

​COPYRIGHT 2026 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.