10 Years & 6 Months as a Dementia Family Caregiver

What does it really take to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s — and still care for yourself?

In this heartfelt episode of Care Lab, Brandy and Emilia sit down with caregiver and advocate Jessica Guthrie to unpack the real, often unseen journey of caregiving. Jessica shares her experience caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s for over a decade, revealing the emotional, mental, and systemic challenges that millennial caregivers face every day.

Together, they explore the unique realities of caregiving in your 20s and 30s, why community support matters and how to find it, how to navigate healthcare systems with self-advocacy, and what truly matters most in the later stages of life. Whether you're a caregiver, know someone who is, or want to better understand the caregiving reality, this episode offers real-world insight, encouragement, and empowering takeaways.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and icebreaker: what made us laugh this week

02:45 Jessica’s caregiving story: 10 years and six months

06:20 What it’s like being a millennial caregiver

09:10 Navigating caregiving alone in broken systems

12:45 How on-demand support changes everything

21:00 Lessons Jessica would tell her younger caregiver self

26:30 Why curiosity matters in caregiving and healthcare

33:10 The power of slowing down and being present

40:15 Final reflections and where to follow Jessica

Resources:

Find more from Jessica: https://www.jessicacguthrie.com

Find care equipment solutions: https://www.asksamie.com

Learn about the future of care navigation: https://seniorai.app

Explore more episodes: https://www.carelabpodcast.com