story collider

In the first story, Erica Silberman and her siblings struggle to figure out the best way to care for their mom after she’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As a young struggling actor, it’s decided Erica should be the primary caregiver.

Her mom comes to live with Erica and her fiancee in Brooklyn. Erica shares their misadventures in providing 24/7 supervision. Then they look for a nursing home nearby. Finally, they have to create their own solution after realizing their introvert mom is never going to be comfortable being part of a group.

In the second story, both of Pat Furlong’s sons are diagnosed with a rare, terminal disease. Rather than accepting that both of her children will die from muscular dystophy before they reach adulthood, she takes action.

Pat is told that there’s no hope and no help. Instead, she becomes an advocate. She goes to great lengths to research the disease, develop standards of care, figures out how to write a law, funds medical research, and work toward a cure.

Listen on Story Collider.

This is an external article from our library

Everyone is talking about caregiving, but it can still be difficult to find meaningful information and real stories that go deep. We read (and listen to and watch and look at) the best content about caregiving and bring you a curated selection.

Have a great story about care work? Use our contact form to submit it to us so we can share it with the community!

Related Articles

Popular categories

Finances
Burnout
After Caregiving
Housing
Relationships
Finding Meaning
Planning
Dying
Finding Support
Work
Grief

Don't see what you're looking for? Search the library

Share your thoughts

0 Comments

Share your thoughts and experiences

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Join our communities

Whenever you want to talk, there’s always someone up in one of our Facebook communities.

These private Facebook groups are a space for support and encouragement — or getting it off your chest.

Join our newsletter

Thoughts on care work from Cori, our director, that hit your inbox each Monday morning (more-or-less).

There are no grand solutions, but there are countless little ways to make our lives better.

Share your insights

Caregivers have wisdom and experience to share. Researchers, product developers, and members of the media are eager to understand the nature of care work and make a difference.

We have a group specifically to connect you so we can bring about change.