Free Educational Programs

Free Family Education, in Honor of Anne Kelly

The Anne Kelly Family Foundation offers these programs free of charge to patients, families, caregivers and anyone who wants to learn. No account, membership or purchase is needed. Choose a program and begin reading.

About our free programs

Most Anne Kelly Family Foundation programs begin with a personal letter from our founder, Mary Kelly. She shares what her family lived through with her sister, Anne Kelly Sousa, or their mother, Carol, and why the topic matters to them. The lessons that follow offer general, family-friendly information from trusted U.S. health organizations, along with simple tools you can print and use.

Our programs are free and self-paced. There are no tests, no grades and nothing to pass. If you think someone is having a medical emergency, call 911. If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988.

1

Choose a program

Pick the topic that matters to you and your family. Click Begin Learning to start reading right away.

2

Read at your own pace

Each program has four parts. Read them in any order, take breaks, and come back whenever you are ready. There are no tests.

3

Print what helps

Most programs include printable family resources you can keep and share.

Brain & Neurological Health

FREE4 parts · self-paced

Brain Tumor & Brain Cancer Family Foundations™

For patients, families and caregivers facing a brain tumor or brain cancer diagnosis: understanding the diagnosis, treatment decisions, recovery and rehabilitation, and finding hope and resources together.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding the Diagnosis – A Family’s First Steps
  2. Part 2 Treatment Options & Making Informed Decisions
  3. Part 3 Recovery, Rehabilitation & Living with a Brain Tumor
  4. Part 4 Hope, Resources & Moving Forward Together

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Understanding Anaplastic Astrocytoma™

For families in the first days and weeks after an anaplastic astrocytoma diagnosis: next steps, treatment options and informed decisions, daily living, and support through every stage.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 The First Days After Diagnosis
  2. Part 2 Understanding Your Diagnosis, Treatment Options & Making Informed Medical Decisions
  3. Part 3 Living with Anaplastic Astrocytoma
  4. Part 4 Hope, Recurrence, Palliative Care, Hospice & Supporting Families Through Every Stage

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Understanding Seizures Family Foundations™

What seizures are and why they happen, how to recognize them, seizure first aid and when to call 911, and living well with seizures over time.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding Seizures – What They Are, Why They Happen & Recognizing the Signs
  2. Part 2 Seizure First Aid, Emergency Response & Staying Safe
  3. Part 3 Living with Seizures, Recovery, Communication & Emotional Well-Being
  4. Part 4 Long-Term Living, Resources, Advocacy & Hope

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Understanding Stroke: Every Minute Matters™

How a stroke affects the brain and body, the warning signs and why every minute matters, recovery and rehabilitation, and preventing future strokes.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Stroke Basics, Risk Factors & How the Brain Works
  2. Part 2 Recognizing the Warning Signs, Emergency Treatment & The First 24 Hours
  3. Part 3 Stroke Recovery, Rehabilitation & Rebuilding Life
  4. Part 4 Living Beyond Stroke, Preventing Future Strokes & Supporting Survivors

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Headaches Awareness™

Common headache types, triggers and everyday management, the warning signs that a headache may be serious, diagnosis and treatment, and support for families.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding Headaches—Common Types, Causes & Everyday Management
  2. Part 2 When a Headache Could Signal Something More Serious
  3. Part 3 Diagnosis, Treatment, Advocacy & Living with Hope
  4. Part 4 Brain Tumors, Brain Cancer & Supporting Families Through the Journey

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning

Serious & Chronic Health Conditions

FREE4 parts · self-paced

COPD & Chronic Lung Disease Family Foundations™

A family-centered guide to COPD and chronic lung disease: daily care and oxygen therapy, advanced illness and end-of-life care, and healing after loss.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding COPD & Chronic Lung Disease
  2. Part 2 Daily Care, Oxygen Therapy & Living Well with COPD
  3. Part 3 Advanced COPD, End-of-Life Care & Supporting the Family Journey
  4. Part 4 Life After Loss, Healing & Honoring a Loved One’s Legacy

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Sepsis: Early Recognition Can Save Lives™

What sepsis is, who is most at risk, the warning signs and why early action saves lives, intensive care and recovery, and life after sepsis.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding Sepsis, Risk Factors & Why Every Minute Matters
  2. Part 2 Recognizing the Warning Signs, Diagnosis & Emergency Treatment
  3. Part 3 Septic Shock, Intensive Care, Recovery & Supporting a Loved One
  4. Part 4 Life After Sepsis, Prevention & Hope for the Future

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Understanding Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): When a Simple Infection Becomes Serious™

How to recognize urinary tract infections early, who is most at risk, diagnosis and treatment, when a UTI becomes an emergency, and recovery.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding UTIs, Risk Factors & Early Recognition
  2. Part 2 Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention & Protecting Your Loved One
  3. Part 3 When a UTI Becomes an Emergency – Kidney Infections, Sepsis & Life-Threatening Complications
  4. Part 4 Recovery, Prevention & Supporting a Loved One After a Serious Infection

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Understanding Prostate Cancer: A Family Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment & Support

Prostate cancer basics, screening and diagnosis, treatment options and side effects, and how families can give informed, caring support.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Prostate Basics, Screening & Diagnosis
  2. Part 2 Diagnosis, Treatment Options & Making Informed Decisions
  3. Part 3 Managing Side Effects, Recovery & Living Well
  4. Part 4 Family Caregiving, Emotional Support & Navigating the Future

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Sudden Heart Attack: When a Loved One Passes Unexpectedly

For families facing the sudden, unexpected loss of a loved one: what happened medically, coping with the first hours, grief and trauma, and rebuilding life.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding Sudden Cardiac Death, Heart Attacks & Coping with the First Hours
  2. Part 2 Grieving After an Unexpected Loss, Trauma, & Supporting Your Family
  3. Part 3 Healing, Honoring Your Loved One & Rebuilding Life After Loss
  4. Part 4 Finding Hope, Supporting Others & Creating a Lasting Legacy
Begin Learning

Care, Family & Life Support

FREE4 parts · self-paced

Down Syndrome Family Foundations™

A family-first introduction to Down syndrome: diagnosis and development, learning and family life, adulthood and healthcare, and advocacy and inclusion.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding Down Syndrome – Diagnosis, Development & Building a Strong Foundation
  2. Part 2 Growth, Learning, Education & Family Life
  3. Part 3 Adulthood, Independence, Healthcare & Living a Meaningful Life
  4. Part 4 Advocacy, Inclusion, Community Resources & Celebrating Every Ability
Begin Learning
FREE4 parts · self-paced

Palliative Care versus Hospice Care — Family Foundations™

How palliative care and hospice care work and how they differ, when care needs change, hospice eligibility and admission, and how the care team supports your loved one at home.

What’s inside
  1. Part 1 Understanding Palliative Care & Hospice Care — The Fundamentals Every Family Should Know
  2. Part 2 Understanding Serious Illness, Disease Progression & When Care Needs Change
  3. Part 3 Hospice Care Eligibility, Admission Process & What Families Can Expect
  4. Part 4 The Hospice Team, Daily Care & Supporting Your Loved One at Home

Includes printable family resources

Begin Learning

Grief & Loss

Important information

  • These programs share personal experiences, general education and family support.
  • They are not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendations or professional training, and they do not award certificates, certification or continuing-education (CEU) credit.
  • Mary Kelly’s personal stories describe her own family’s experience. Every family’s situation is different.
  • Please talk with your own licensed healthcare professionals about your situation.
  • In a medical emergency, call 911.
  • If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

These free programs are provided by the Anne Kelly Family Foundation and hosted on nahcp.com. They are separate from NAHCP’s professional education and certification programs. Learn about the Foundation and Anne’s story.