Family caregivers play a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of older adults. For older persons with dementia, caregiver participation in disease management, care planning, and clinical decision making is especially critical. Yet, despite their active involvement in care processes, caregivers report deficits in their communication with health care providers, including lack of information, guidance, and support. This presentation will discuss the barriers and facilitators to effective communication between health providers and family caregivers, focusing on the dementia context. It will highlight emerging solutions, such as policies and interventions, that provide practical tools and strategies to support caregivers and their care recipients during medical encounters.