Today, more than three-quarters of adults who live in the community and need long-term care depend on family and friends as their only source of assistance with activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, and eating) or instrumental activities of daily living (such as transportation and managing finances). Research suggests that the more than 33 million caregivers who provide help to someone age 50 or older often assume these responsibilities for a relative, partner, or friend with little preparation for the role and little ongoing support. The results frequently are poor physical and mental health for the caregiver and preventable institutionalization for her or his loved one. Social workers and nurses are at the forefront of interacting with and providing support to family caregivers. In order to prepare current and future professionals in these fields, the AARP Foundation, together with the "American Journal of Nursing," the Council on Social Work Education, the Family Caregiver Alliance, and the Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Center for State Health Policy, received funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation for an interdisciplinary project on family caregiving for older adults. This article describes this project which aims to bring together experts to advance family caregiving by identifying additional and further developing existing best practices in nursing and social work to help families care for older adults. The project will begin to lay the groundwork for producing a cadre of nurses and social workers who embrace a patient- "and" family-centered care perspective. (Contains 5 tables.)