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Cultural Expectations in Caregiving: Family, Sacrifice, and Self-Care

  1. Cultural Expectations in Caregiving: Family, Sacrifice, and Self-Care Natalie Elliott Handy and JJ Elliott Hill 54:25

“It's OK not to know everything.” – Tracee Loran

In this heartfelt episode of Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver, hosts JJ, Natalie, and Tracee Loran dive into the unexpected twists and turns of caregiving. Tracy shares her deeply personal story of stepping into the caregiver role for her grandmother after a serious fall, shedding light on:

đź’ˇ Family dynamics & cultural expectations
đź’ˇ Balancing independence & caregiving responsibilities
đź’ˇ The emotional toll & career impact of caregiving
đź’ˇ Tips for self-care and preserving creativity as a caregiver

From navigating complex regulations to honoring her grandmother's rich history, Tracee opens up about the challenges, lessons, and Growth that come with caregiving. She emphasizes the power of storytelling, the importance of self-care, and finding joy amidst the responsibilities.

Whether you're a caregiver, family member, or simply curious about the realities of caregiving, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

About Tracee Loran:

Tracee Loran is a versatile actress, writer, producer, and content creator based in New York City.Her career took an unexpected turn when, during her first acting role, she was invited to join the writers room, which opened doors to numerous writing and production projects.

Tracee has appeared in national TV commercials for renowned brands such as HBO, FedEx, AT&T, Arby’s, and Sony. For the past six years, she has balanced her time between New York City and Mississippi, where she lovingly cared for her 97-year-old grandmother.

She is the creator of Black History Baddies, a celebrated video series with over 1.5 million views across social media. 

Tracee was inspired to create the series during her time in Mississippi after reading about Claudette Colvin, an unsung civil rights pioneer. The series spotlights the achievements of Black women trailblazers who deserve greater recognition. Tracee passionately amplifies these stories to empower and inspire.

In this one-woman show, Tracee takes on multiple roles: she writes, acts, directs, edits, researches, and handles cinematography and costume design—all on her own.

You can connect with Tracee on YouTube, TikTok, X, and Instagram under the handle Tracee

Loran or visit her website at www.traceeloran.com.

Social Media

Website: https://traceeloran.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/traceeloran 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traceeloran/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traceeloran 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracee-loran-2712896/ 

YouTube:

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Tune in on Whole Care Network

JJ Elliott Hill Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver

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.

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