Joy Johnston did not expect that she would become a full-time caregiver for her mother soon after her father died of dementia. But she persevered, uprooting her life and moving cross-country to care for her mom. Her memoir, The Reluctant Caregiver: Missives from the Caregiving Minefields, provides a…

Joy Johnston did not expect that she would become a full-time caregiver for her mother soon after her father died of dementia. But she persevered, uprooting her life and moving cross-country to care f…

Joy Johnston did not expect that she would become a full-time caregiver for her mother soon after her father died of dementia. But she persevered, uprooting her life and moving cross-country to care for her mom. Her memoir, The Reluctant Caregiver: Missives from the Caregiving Minefields, provides a fresh perspective on how to provide care even if you’re not a natural caregiver. Joy’s writings also highlight the challenges involved in long-distance and rural caregiving.  Below is the second part of a conversation we had about her caregiving experiences. You can read the first half of the …

Carol Marak is a Solo Advisor and Advocate, and soon-to-be-published author of the book Solo and Smart. Carol is a former family caregiver; she has spent the last decade providing help and advice to countless aging adults planning for their future. Carol’s work has appeared in Time Magazine, ABC N…

Carol Marak is a Solo Advisor and Advocate, and soon-to-be-published author of the book Solo and Smart. Carol is a former family caregiver; she has spent the last decade providing help and advice to c…

Carol Marak is a Solo Advisor and Advocate, and soon-to-be-published author of the book Solo and Smart. Carol is a former family caregiver; she has spent the last decade providing help and advice to countless aging adults planning for their future. Carol’s work has appeared in Time Magazine, ABC News, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, US News and AARP the Magazine.   This interview has been edited for length and clarity and covers essential retirement planning for solo agers.     Ben: What's your background and how did you get involved in advocating for solo aging? Carol: I'm a…

Theresa Wilbanks cared for her father until his passing at 99 years of age. Theresa founded Sustainable Caregiving and works with fellow family caregivers to help them navigate their caregiving journey. Look for Theresa’s book, Navigating the Caregiver River: A Journey to Sustainable Caregiving,…

Theresa Wilbanks cared for her father until his passing at 99 years of age. Theresa founded Sustainable Caregiving and works with fellow family caregivers to help them navigate their caregiving journ…

Theresa Wilbanks cared for her father until his passing at 99 years of age. Theresa founded Sustainable Caregiving and works with fellow family caregivers to help them navigate their caregiving journey. Look for Theresa’s book, Navigating the Caregiver River: A Journey to Sustainable Caregiving, coming soon! By Theresa Wilbanks During the time that I cared for Dad, I experienced the raging river of emotions that comes with caring for a family member. Overwhelmed and drowning, I navigated toward a more sustainable caregiving experience. When I learned to set boundaries, use mindfulness to…