National Caregivers Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
California Assembly Rules Committee analysis describes National Caregivers Day as founded in 2015 and observed annually on the third Friday in February.
About National Caregivers Day
National Caregivers Day is a United States caregiver-recognition observance held on the third Friday in February. It recognizes professional, family and other caregivers who provide personal, medical, practical and emotional support to people who need assistance.
California legislative records identify the Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies (PAHHHA) as the organization that founded the observance in 2015 and identify February 19, 2016 as its first observance.
Why National Caregivers Day matters
The day is intended to make caregiving work more visible and to give families, employers, institutions and communities a focused opportunity to thank people who provide sustained care and support.
It is an appreciation and awareness observance rather than a United States federal public holiday. Government resolutions may recognize a particular year’s observance without constituting the original founding act.
History of National Caregivers Day
California Assembly Rules Committee analyses in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2023 repeatedly state that National Caregivers Day was founded by the Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies in 2015.
Those legislative records also state that the first observance was held on February 19, 2016 and that the day is observed annually on the third Friday in February. This gives the guide an exact documented inaugural date rather than only a founding year.
California later adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 11, filed with the Secretary of State on March 27, 2023 as Resolution Chapter 17, recognizing February 17, 2023 as National Caregivers Day in California. This is later government recognition, not the original founding act.
Rhode Island continued that institutional recognition in 2026 by passing House Resolution 7710 proclaiming February 20, 2026 as National Caregivers Day in the state. The reviewed evidence does not establish a formal PAHHHA founding instrument, a separate 2015 adoption date, a single current central facilitator or why the third Friday in February was chosen.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies (PAHHHA)
California Assembly and Senate legislative analyses repeatedly identify PAHHHA as the organization that founded National Caregivers Day in 2015.
Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies (PAHHHA)
The reviewed legislative record attributes establishment of the recurring observance to PAHHHA in 2015; later state resolutions are treated as recognition rather than the founding act.
First documented observance
California legislative analyses explicitly state that National Caregivers Day was first observed on February 19, 2016.
California chaptered a concurrent resolution recognizing February 17, 2023 as National Caregivers Day in the state; this is later state recognition, not the 2015 founding act.
California Legislature / Secretary of State · ACR 11 — Resolution Chapter 17, Statutes of 2023
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
Caregiver Appreciation Day, National Caregiver Appreciation Day
How to Observe National Caregivers Day
Thank a caregiver directly and specifically for the care, reliability or support they provide.
Offer practical help such as preparing a meal, handling an errand or covering a task when doing so would genuinely reduce a caregiver’s workload.
Employers and care organizations can recognize staff contributions while also reviewing staffing, rest, training and support needs.
Learn about local respite-care, caregiver-support and benefits resources that may be useful to family or professional caregivers.
Respect caregivers’ and care recipients’ privacy when sharing stories or photographs, and obtain permission before posting personal experiences publicly.
National Caregivers Day Facts
National Caregivers Day is observed annually on the third Friday in February.
California legislative analyses identify the Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies (PAHHHA) as the founder in 2015.
The first documented observance was February 19, 2016.
California has repeatedly recognized the observance through legislative resolutions, including chaptered ACR 11 in 2023.
Rhode Island passed a 2026 House resolution proclaiming February 20, 2026 as National Caregivers Day in the state.
The reviewed sources do not establish a formal founding instrument, a separate 2015 adoption date, a verified current central facilitator or why the third-Friday rule was selected.
National Caregivers Day Messages
Happy National Caregivers Day—thank you for the patience, skill and compassion you bring to the people who depend on your care.
Today we recognize caregivers whose everyday work helps people live with greater dignity, safety and support.
National Caregivers Day is a reminder that meaningful care deserves meaningful appreciation, practical support and respect.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
California Assembly Rules Committee — ACR 11 analysis (2023); repeats founder, founding year, first observance and recurrence (opens in a new tab)
California Assembly Rules Committee — ACR 28 analysis (2021); founder, 2015 founding, exact 19 February 2016 first observance and recurrence (opens in a new tab)
California Senate Floor Analyses — 2023 chaptered-legislation digest; ACR 11 became Resolution Chapter 17 (opens in a new tab)
Rhode Island General Assembly — H7710 (2026); passed resolution proclaiming 20 February 2026 as National Caregivers Day (opens in a new tab)
California Assembly Rules Committee — National Caregivers Day analysis (opens in a new tab)
State Legislative Analysis
National Day Calendar — National Caregivers Day history and recurrence (opens in a new tab)
Recurrence History Corroboration
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA — National Caregivers Day (opens in a new tab)
Care Organization Corroboration
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers — 2021; independently states that PAHHHA founded the observance in 2015 (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Caregivers Day?
Third Friday in February The documented recurrence rule is: Third Friday in February.
Does National Caregivers Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is National Caregivers Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / caregiver recognition; organizer convention corroborated in California legislative analysis. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Caregivers Day?
The reviewed sources identify Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies (PAHHHA) as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is National Caregivers Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / caregiver recognition; organizer convention corroborated in California legislative analysis.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is National Caregivers Day?
It is observed annually on the third Friday in February.
Who founded National Caregivers Day?
California legislative records identify the Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies (PAHHHA) as the founder.
When was National Caregivers Day first observed?
California legislative analyses identify February 19, 2016 as the first observance.
When was National Caregivers Day founded?
The reviewed legislative record places its founding in 2015, with the first observance the following year.
Is National Caregivers Day a federal public holiday?
No. It is an appreciation and awareness observance, although state legislatures have formally recognized particular yearly observances.
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