At the start of a new year, it’s common for people to reflect on the highlights of the last twelve months and to set goals for the year ahead. For caregivers, moments like these can be a stark reminder that their lives are very different from those of their peers. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what it’s like to see their friends’ highlight reels and how it feels to move into another year of caregiving.
On January 1, 2026, Minnesota will become the thirteenth state to offer Paid Family Leave. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk with Cathy McLeer from AARP about how this new law benefits caregivers, how we can support other states in adopting this law, and other ways AARP supports caregivers of all ages.
Caregivers frequently find themselves needing to make split second decisions that are, in some cases, matters of life and death. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about decisions they have had to make, the role their personality types play in those moments, and how supporters can help.
Allison’s mom, Barbara, plays an active role in supporting Allison’s entire family, from joining them at the ER to helping with household tasks to providing emotional support. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk with her about what this looks like on a daily basis, how it feels to witness her daughter go through hard things, and how this third ring role is often unseen.
Justin and Allison came together on stage at CaregiverCON in Minneapolis on November 1, 2025 for a live recording of this episode. They discussed how they met and the impact of finding friendships and support within the caregiving community.
There are moments in caregiving - an appointment, scan or biopsy results, an accident, etc. - that send our lives down a new path. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about crossroads moments they’ve experienced, what it can feel like when you know those moments are looming, and how supporters can help.
Allison and Justin have a frank conversation about what it feels like now that their caregiving lives are at such different stages: with Allison enduring ongoing crises and Justin no longer considering himself an active caregiver. They also discuss what they have heard from caregivers whose loved one has passed away about the grief they have experienced at no longer feeling at home with their caregiver friends.
Justin and Allison have each been caregiving for more than a decade. In this episode, they talk about how things have changed for them as they’ve gotten older, learned things about themselves and the health care system, and had countless experiences, both positive and negative.
After a summer full of surgeries and hospitalizations for her husband, Allison reflects on what it felt like in the days and weeks after those crises as she recovered from all they went through. She and Justin share what those moments can feel like, what they have found to be helpful, and how supporters can help.
In this episode, Allison and Justin speak with Alec Wendelboe, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the MN Brain Injury Alliance and MN Stroke Association about how people living with chronic conditions and those who are caregiving have a higher likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation. They discuss why this is, what that may look and feel like, and where to get support.