Heart of the Home Series

I was scrolling through TikTok when a video stopped me in my tracks — a family gathered around their grandmother, paint on her arms, and one by one, every hug she gave left its mark on their shirts. A memory they'll keep forever. That family is rich in love, and I had to know their story. This is Dr. Ivy Johnson, known online as Dr. Ivy Cares — a daughter turned caregiver, part of the sandwich generation, who now helps other overwhelmed women feel less alone.

Most Americans are socializing less than they used to — but for family caregivers, that same trend hits even harder. New research shows solo caregivers who lose their social time are nearly four times more likely to face severe stress. Here's why caregivers disappear from their own lives, and what actually helps them come back.

Jeanette Yates became a family caregiver as a child and has spent more than four decades caring for her mom. She shares how caregivers can let go of perfection, set real boundaries, spot burnout early, and choose care technology that actually helps.

Dugan Meredith never planned to become a caregiver — but when his mother-in-law was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, he surrendered control, found his purpose, and built a nonprofit to support families walking the same road. This is his story, in his own words.

Hospice nurse Julie Kiker, RN, BSN shares nearly two decades of bedside wisdom — on calling, comfort, and why no family should walk the final journey alone. A Heart of the Home feature by EnhDme.

Ryan and Sam have been best friends for 36 years. Meet the duo behind Extreme Motus — and the all-terrain wheelchair redefining what inclusion really looks like.

Nearly 40,000 seniors die from falls each year — and physical therapist Steve Kerr has spent 30+ years working to change that. In this Heart of the Home interview, the President of the Fall Prevention Foundation shares the story behind the Safe Zone system, the psychology of fear, and why falls are preventable — not inevitable.

Joanna is a mother, educator, and full-time caregiver navigating Alzheimer's with dark humor, radical honesty, and a community of thousands. In this Heart of the Home interview, she opens up about the long goodbye, the sandwich generation struggle, and why caregivers deserve the truth — not a softened version of it.

After 18 years in hospice care, DJ Castilleja knows what separates a peaceful end-of-life experience from a chaotic one — and it starts long before the final days. In this Heart of the Home interview, the founder of Eliminating Caregiver Chaos shares how family caregivers can lighten their emotional load, plan ahead, and find calm in one of life's most demanding roles.