Heart of the Home Series

Tina Coonrod-Neal has spent over 30 years in healthcare — but nothing prepared her for becoming the full-time caregiver to her husband Joe after his stroke, all while living with MS herself. In this Heart of the Home interview, Tina shares how she balances her own health with Joe's care, why she started Redbird Grit & Grace, and what she wants every overwhelmed caregiver to know.

Amy Shaw, PA-C, is a dementia clinician, educator, and founder of Better Dementia. In this Heart of the Home interview, she shares how she built Wyoming's first comprehensive dementia care program, why behavior is communication, and what every family caregiver needs to hear.

Heather Robbins didn't set out to run a nonprofit — she set out to survive. As the full-time caregiver and wife of Rob Robbins, a U.S. Army veteran and retired emergency physician living with TBI, frontotemporal dementia, and Parkinson's, Heather shares the invisible weight of caregiving, the tools that actually help, and why she founded Robbins Nest Alliance.

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.

Keeping seniors hydrated during a heat wave can be the difference between a hard summer and a dangerous one. This guide covers the warning signs of dehydration, daily hydration habits that actually work, frozen protein treats seniors will eat, and what to do when they refuse to drink — from a caregiver who's seen it firsthand.

EnhDme now carries all four Med-Mizer ActiveCare™ hospital beds — the only line with OneButtonSafeTurn® technology that pivots the bed into a full chair position for safer, more independent transfers at home.

Rachel Austin became a caregiver at 16 when her mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Over 18 years, she discovered that laughter wasn't a distraction from serious illness — it was one of the most powerful tools a caregiving home has. Actor, writer, and founder of the Love Labor Project, Rachel shares how comedy carried her and her mom through, and what she learned about love, loss, and showing up.

Marisa Nevels-Johnson is a mom of six — including newborn twins — and the full-time family caregiver for her elderly grandfather. In this Heart of the Home feature, she shares what it really looks like to hold everything together, and why accepting help isn't weakness.

Dr. Karolynn Echols is an Associate Professor and Section Chief of Urogynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital — and her mother's caregiver. As a "double-duty caregiver," she navigates the emotional and clinical realities of vascular dementia while holding down one of medicine's most demanding careers. This is her story.