The Emotional Journey of Caregiving Caregiver grief is a complex emotional experience that often begins long before a loved one's physical passing. For those providing care to family members with conditions like dementia, this grief process can be particularly challenging as you witness gradual changes in your relationship and connection. The emotional challenges of caregiving [...]

The history of television or movies depicting any form of dementia hasn’t always been great. The “crazy old person” or the feeble older adult who is seen only as a burden are harmful tropes that we’ve, thankfully, started to push back on. A New Addition: The Great Lillian Hall A recent addition to the [...]

When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), back in 1996, it was a shock. It was an unknown. I remember when I told my supervisor at the time, I later overheard him saying something to the effect of “she’s going to die.” No kidding. We all are. A few weeks later, my neurologist [...]

Alzheimer’s disease devastated our family when my mom, at just 67, was diagnosed in 2010 and passed away two years later. Living through her journey opened my eyes in ways I could never have anticipated. Through this post, I hope to share those insights, supported by the innovative Alzheimer’s Module from Embodied Labs, which [...]

Understanding Syngap1: A Sibling's Perspective My name is Paulina Polanco, and I am a Syngap1 caregiver to my two extraordinary 20-year-old twin sisters, Esperanza and Libertad—Espy and Libby. Their journey with this neurodevelopmental disease has transformed our family's understanding of love, resilience, and unconditional support. The Turning Point: When Syngap1 Became Real In 2020, our [...]

FX/Hulu's "Feud: Capote vs. the Swans" offers more than just a glimpse into high society drama and literary feuds. Beyond its captivating portrayal of 1960s-1980s fashion and sharp-tongued exchanges, this Ryan Murphy series masterfully weaves profound themes of family caregiving that deeply resonate with today's caregiving challenges. The Paley Story: When Illness Transforms Family [...]

Sandra Bagwell of Mission, Texas, holding the remains of her son, Ryan, who died in 2022. “Ryan was poisoned,” she said. Credit...Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The New York Times To the Editor: Re: “In Fentanyl Deaths, Victims’ Families Say Word Choice Matters” (front page, March 11): The heartbreaking story of 19-year-old Ryan Bagwell’s death further [...]

The Unexpected Journey of Alzheimer's No matter how much research you conduct about Alzheimer's disease, understanding its true impact remains impossible until it directly affects your family. My personal journey began in early 2017 when I first noticed unusual changes in my husband's behavior. By 2018, we received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment [...]

I’ve watched the Chevy holiday commercial numerous times over the past few weeks.  From the first moment I saw the opening interaction between the grandmother and granddaughter, I’ve been enamored with the thoughtfulness put into creating this commercial.  So much so that we shared and discussed the video with employed caregivers as a [...]

During National Hispanic Heritage Month — September 15 to October 15 — the U.S. celebrates the contributions of more than 60 million Hispanic Americans, Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx-identifying people to our culture and society. This is the story of Deborah, a Latinx woman who cared for her mother, who immigrated from Brazil. Deborah's mother was [...]