Once Upon a Caregiver
Caregiving requires a lot — a lot of heart, passion, drive, energy, strength…. As any caregiver knows, the list goes on. Yet, caregivers also need a lot — information, resources, support — and many are too much in the thick of their role to come up for air and ask for any of those things. […]
Meet Mona, who cares for her mother
Mona’s mom, 97, has Alzheimer’s disease and has lived with Mona for the past 11 years. When Mona retired about 12 years ago, she noticed that her mother, who had always been very active socially and politically, was getting forgetful. Her mother lived in an apartment across the alley from her, and the family would […]
Meet Gail, who cared for her mother
About eight years ago, Gail and her siblings decided that she should care for their mother. Gail’s 76-year-old mother was in kidney failure and AFib; she had vascular dementia and other health issues. The family felt like this was the only financially viable option due to the cost of hiring caregivers and nursing home care. […]
Meet Beth, who cared for her husband
Beth became an unexpected caregiver early, when her husband had an extreme reaction to allergy tests a decade ago. The reaction led to an asthmatic condition that shut down his lungs. He went into a coma, but regained his ability to talk and eat once he emerged. The experience, though, left him blind and paralyzed. […]
Meet Russell, who — with his husband — cares for his mother
About six years ago, Russell’s family in Puerto Rico called him in Chicago. He needed to do something, they said, because his mom was forgetting things on the stove and showing other signs of cognitive decline. Russell went to Puerto Rico to bring his mom back to Chicago, despite her resistance. “Honestly, there was nothing I could […]
Meet George, who cared for his mother
After a long career working overseas, George returned to the U.S. to move in with his mother. She passed away in 2016, two years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. George, who is single and an only child, did everything for her: providing personal care, meals, and transportation. Caring for his mom changed their relationship, […]
Meet Pam, who cared for her husband
Pam cared for her husband, who recently passed away at age 80 from Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed about two years ago, after having symptoms for several years. At first, he was largely able to do things for himself, but a few months after his diagnosis, he was hospitalized for blood clots in his lungs. […]
Meet Scott, who cares for his older sister
Scott’s sister has dementia and lives six hours away from him — a distance that introduces unique caregiving challenges. Once, for example, Scott dialed 911 on her behalf because she was having a health emergency she couldn’t comprehend. After placing the call, Scott drove six hours to meet his sister at the hospital. He remained […]
Meet Joan, who is caring for her mother and adult granddaughter
Joan and her husband are currently caregivers for Joan’s mother, 98, and their adult granddaughter, 35, who live with them on their farm. Their granddaughter has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, needs extensive physical assistance, and has multiple health conditions that require special attention. They are no longer in contact with their daughter, who had a […]
Diverse Caregivers
The Care Plan prioritizes LGBTQ+ and racially diverse caregivers. After her wife was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2011, Marsha Wetzel spent the next two years taking care of Judy, her partner of 30 years, until Judy entered hospice care. Within weeks of Judy’s death, her family evicted Wetzel from the home they shared. Suddenly, […]