Caregivers become experts at asking for help for everyone except themselves.

They schedule appointments, advocate, coordinate, solve problems, and carry enormous emotional weight. But when it comes to asking for support, many stay silent.

In Episode 7, Iris Coker shares her experience balancing long distance caregiving, career, and family while navigating guilt, grief, and the pressure to always be strong.

Together, we discuss:

• Why caregivers struggle to ask for help
• The hidden weight of long distance caregiving
• Giving yourself permission to accept grace
• How supportive managers and coworkers can make all the difference

And much more..

Sometimes the most important thing a caregiver needs is someone to simply say, "You don't have to do this alone."

There are critical moments in caregiving that don’t get discussed enough.

It starts with the before, then the during, and the after. This episode not only addresses those three stages, but what happens when you get through these stages with one loved one, and begin the process again with another.

In Episode 6 of Who Cares About Me?, we hear from Alex Fenech, Founder & CEO of Closure, a business designed to help people prepare for and navigate both pre- and post-loss moments with clarity and confidence. Alex experienced the painful loss of loved ones and the administrative challenges that come along with being a caregiver, all while balancing a career, motherhood and life's daily responsibilities.

Alex shares what happens before, during, and after caregiving, and how those experiences inspired her to create Closure. Together, we discuss anticipatory grief, accepting support, preparing for the inevitable, and starting the process all over again. We also discuss preparing documents and organizing your life, and how this act is one of the most important gifts you can leave your family.

Why aren’t we talking about the partners who stepped into caregiving without being asked? Who is caring about them and their sacrifices?

The ones who didn't grow up calling this person "Mom" or "Dad," but found themselves showing up anyway, managing medications, helping with mobility, sitting in waiting rooms, and holding space for the person they love.

In Episode 5, “Partners Carrying The Load: The Quiet Role of the In-Law Caregiver,” Clarence Steele, partner to Who Cares About Me? host, Jackee de Lagarde, shares his experience caring for his mother-in-law alongside his partner, reflecting on the emotional complexities, relationship dynamics, and sacrifices that come with supporting someone else's parent, especially when you’ve been in this role already.

Family isn't always who raised you. Sometimes family is who you respect and love.

Do you know an in-law caregiver who has taken on this role? Shout them out in the comments.