This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Through a deeply personal account of her own mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, Carol Shillinglaw explains difficulties that families encounter adapting to a loved one’s sudden chronic illness. Using humor and perseverance as tools, her family members attempt to make the most out of the new roles they must assume and changing dynamics. Recognizing the frightfully negligible support available to caregivers in their position, Carol urges the need to establish a more uniform support network to serve the 65 million (and growing) people in the U.S. who currently act as caregivers for family members.

Carol Shillinglaw has been an employee at GE Healthcare for over 21 years, serving various roles. She currently leads a team at Global Design, exploring the whitespace in healthcare and creating solutions for caregivers who have family members affected by chronic illness.