Jessica Guthrie shares her journey of providing over a decade of care for her mother, Constance, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Growing up, Jessica and her mother had a very close relationship, with Constance owning a hair salon where young Jessica would often help out. However, as Jessica left for college, she noticed her mother beginning to struggle with isolation and forgetfulness. This eventually led to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis when Constance was just 66 years old.
Over the next several years, Jessica balanced caring for her mother from a distance while pursuing her career, which involved frequent flights home to Virginia. She worked tirelessly to set up systems and routines to keep her mother engaged and safe at home. However, as Constance’s symptoms progressed and she started displaying concerning behaviors like wandering, Jessica made the difficult decision to move back home in 2019. Working remotely, she focused on creating new memories with her mother and learning to slow down and cherish every moment together.
By 2022, Constance required full-time care and assistance. Jessica placed her mother on home hospice care but found resources were removed prematurely. Despite this challenge, Constance stabilized in her condition, though she remains fully dependent on others. Jessica has learned invaluable lessons about caregiving through her experiences and shares her wisdom to help others navigate similar situations.
About Jessica:
Jessica C. Guthrie is a visionary leader dedicated to reshaping the landscape of caregiving. With over ten years of caregiving experience, she champions the cause of providing dignified, respectful, and compassionate care for loved ones. She believes in the power of deep empathy, patience, and unwavering curiosity, even in the face of adversity.
As a Caregiver of her mother living with Alzheimer’s Disease, Jessica has observed the challenges faced by families, particularly those caring for individuals with dementia. She emphasizes the need for a fundamental shift in the way caregiving is approached, involving individuals, families, and healthcare professionals working in synergy. Through her platform "Career & Caregiving Collide™," Jessica shares her insights and pioneering ideas, guiding others in navigating the intersection of their professional careers and caregiving responsibilities. Her mission is to amplify diverse caregiving narratives and ensure caregivers feel fully supported.
Jessica brings over 13 years of experience in the education and non-profit management & leadership fields. She is now using her experiences to drive her own entrepreneurial efforts to create a better, more equipped world for caregivers and their loved ones. She received her degree in Sociology & Education Policy at Dartmouth College and Master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Policy from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.
Connect with Jessica:
You can learn more about Jessica and her caregiving journey at www.jessicacguthrie.com or follow her on Instagram @CareerCaregivingCollide.
Known since childhood as “The Elliott Girls” or simply, “The Girls”, it makes sense that we work together to support our mother, and each other. Our trio begins with Jenefer Jane “JJ” who was and always will be “in charge”. She’s the peacekeeper. The responsible one, ensuring Natalie and Emilie remain alive. Next is Natalie, the middle child, who was and always will be Miss Congeniality. She’s the athlete. The rebel responsible for three babysitters exiting the summer of ’84. Then there is Emilie, the youngest, who was and always will be “the baby”. At 6’1”, she is the sensitive and quiet soul. The one responsible for the guinea pig that begged for lettuce and the stray dog we adopted from the bus stop.
After high school we went separate ways, from New Mexico to North Carolina. JJ would go on to get her Master’s in Business Administration and work in the finance world before partnering with her now husband, Dexter, to run a variety of businesses. Natalie would go on to get her Master’s in Social Work degree, and work in the mental health field, advocating for children and families to receive the most appropriate services. Natalie would marry and divorce early on but later marry Jason. Emilie would exit college early to marry and gift us with Owen and twins, Maxx and Natalie Jane aka “The Kids”. Emilie would later divorce and work with county government, focusing much time on caring for the kids.
The source of the sisterhood falls to Jim aka “Big Jim” and Connie, small town high school sweethearts married for almost 40 years.
In 2005, at the age of 52, mom would be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She hid the disease for years behind dad’s 6’2” frame. The tremors and sudden inability to move were both calmed and steadied by his arm and simple presence. He was her rock. Our rock. Close family and friends knew of her chronic illness, but to the rest of the world, everything was “fine”. Life would turn upside down when our dad unexpectedly passed in 2011 of a massive heart attack at the age of 58. The assumption was Dad would always be mom’s caregiver but that wasn’t God’s plan.
Mom would spend the years following our father’s death desperately seeking a cure for Parkinson’s while trying to manage her symptoms. As the years went by, the cruel symptoms associated with the disease increased, negatively impacting her body while her mind remained clear and in tune. We lived our lives checking in to make sure she was “okay” but knowing the day would come when we had to do more. And then it did. The summer of 2019 changed everything. That’s where the real caregiver story begins for us. Little did we know she would be only the beginning of our caregiving journey.
In March 2022, Natalie’s husband, Jason, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. From the first time Jason detected something off about the swollen lymph nodes in his neck, to the formal diagnosis, and the decision to move to New York City to participate in a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the journey would push them to their limits. The silver lining of his diagnosis was the cancer brought them closer to God, restoring their faith in Him while also experiencing a myriad of blessings through the kindness of family, friends, and strangers. Their story is a testimony that will inspire and offer hope.
