For more than 25 years, Leeza Gibbons has informed America about the latest in entertainment, music, and Hollywood. Recently she’s taken on a more important mission: helping caregivers understand the ups and downs of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
Caring.com, the leading online destination for family caregivers, is proud to announce a partnership with Gibbons in creating an important online video series entitled Caregiver Confessions, which provides practical and actionable tips for caregivers.
The 13-part series on Caring.com covers topics including the emotional roller coaster that confronts all caregivers, how to keep your family together during the difficult times after a loved one’s diagnosis, and how to deal with the guilt many caregivers experience. Having spent more than a decade caring for her own mother, Gibbons reveals her personal journey on this difficult path and brings her insights and expertise to the series.
“The truth is, ALL caregivers sometimes feel afraid, overwhelmed, resentful, angry, and more,” Gibbons says. “There’s just not a safe place to confess those feelings. That’s why I wanted to create this video diary of my own caregiving journey to share what I learned. With Caring.com, we have a chance to support caregivers by acknowledging what’s real, so we can help them be ready.”
Results from a recent study by Caring.com indicate that caregivers rate the emotional stress of caring for a loved one twice as high as the physical or financial stresses. The survey also revealed that caregivers’ own health is impacted, with 24 percent suffering from depression.
“The Caregiver Confessions series is one of the most important introductions to the site since we launched,” said Andy Cohen, CEO of Caring.com. “Leeza is an amazing person and her knowledge, combined with her unique talents in telling a story and connecting with others, helps make this video series vital viewing for all caregivers.”
Caring.com also offers Steps & Stages, the first-ever interactive guide, support system, and customized e-mail newsletter to deliver specific, stage-appropriate advice for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
