As part of the Modern Aging community, we want to hear from diverse voices that embody what it means to be a caregiver. Each contributor shares their story, what they learned from being a caregiver; what they wished they knew beforehand; what they worry about most; and how they self-care. These are common issues that bind us but how we handle these challenges are often very different depending on our families, cultures, situations, locations. We hope that by sharing their stories, you will find comfort and insight in your caregiving experience as well as possibly learn something new!
No one ever wants to get the diagnosis for Alzheimer’s Disease. When my dad was diagnosed in 2016 for frontotemporal dementia, it was a mixture of overwhelm (we have been caring for our mom since 2001 who had a stroke and now has Parkinson’s), sadness, anxiety and frustration. But
As they often say, the years seem to go by faster as we grow older. It feels so true, doesn’t it? As we ring in another year, I thought it would be a good time to talk about starting your or your loved ones’ care plan. That starts with having the initial conversation.
Contributor: John Wong My Story – My mom was diagnosed with cancer in the September of 2015. It all started on vacation in California, playing with her grandkids when they discovered she couldn’t see out of her right eye. At first we were surprised and amused how funny grandma
Contributor: Diana Chiawen Lee My Story – In March 2010, when my partner Graham turned 50, he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. At the time I was living in NYC, he lived in San Francisco. As a fiercely independent person, he refused to change his life or routine
