In this episode, hosts Kristie King and Antonia Harbin Lamb share personal stories from their own caregiving journeys, highlighting the emotional, practical, and often challenging aspects of caring for loved ones. Kristie reflects on her role as a caregiver to her brother, who lived with diabetes, while Antonia shares her experiences caring for her father, a lifelong diabetic. Together, they explore the meaning of caregiving, the importance of support networks, and the personal growth that comes from these experiences. They also emphasize how caregiving can sometimes go unnoticed, yet its impact resonates deeply. This intimate conversation reminds us that caregivers are heroes who often don’t recognize their own worth, and the episode sheds light on the importance of advocacy and support for caregivers everywhere.
In this special episode of Caregiver Conversations, hosts Kristie King and Antonia Harbin Lamb take the mic as guests themselves. They dive into their personal experiences with caregiving, reflecting on the challenges, lessons, and emotional moments that have shaped their journey. This episode offers a heartfelt look at the transformative role caregiving plays in both personal and professional life.
Kristie shares her experiences with caregiving for her brother, focusing on the moments that shaped her approach to the work, while Antonia reflects on her caregiving journey, particularly with her father. Together, they discuss the importance of self-care, community, and the sometimes overlooked emotional aspects of caregiving.
Join Kristie and Antonia as they open up about what caregiving means to them, how it has impacted their lives, and how these personal experiences continue to shape their professional work in supporting caregivers.
Contact Information:
Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative (SRC): www.semisrc.org | Phone: (888) 341-8593
Elder Law and Advocacy Center (ELAC) : Phone: (313) 937-8291, nlsmichigan.org/elder-law/
[Intro Music Fades In]
Kristie King:
Welcome back to Caregiver Conversations, where we explore the stories, challenges, and solutions that matter most to caregivers. I'm your host, Kristie King, Executive Director of the Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative.
Antonia Harbin Lamb:
And I'm your co-host, Antonia Harbin Lamb, Staff Attorney at the Elder Law and Advocacy Center and Program Manager of the Great Lakes Legal Mediation Division. Today, we’re doing something a little different—today, we’re the special guests on our own podcast.
Kristie:
That's right! Normally, we have the privilege of welcoming guests who share their expertise, but today, Antonia and I are sharing our personal experiences as caregivers. We'll talk about what brought us to this work, what makes it special, and why caregiving matters to us on a deeper level.
Antonia:
I think this will give our listeners a better understanding of where we're coming from and how our experiences influence the conversations we have on the podcast. Caregiving can look different for everyone, but in many ways, we all are caregivers in some form.
Kristie:
Absolutely. And to kick off today’s episode, I’d like to take a moment to recognize one of the caregivers we featured previously on the podcast. Stacy Gray shared her story of caring for her mom, her sister, and her niece. Unfortunately, we’ve learned that Stacy’s mother, Ms. Betty J. Gray, passed away on August 16th. I had the honor of attending her celebration of life on November 2nd, where family and friends gathered to celebrate her legacy, share their favorite memories, and enjoy Ms. Betty’s favorite foods.
Antonia:
It’s so heartwarming to hear how much of an impact Stacy’s mom had on the people around her. It’s important to remember that, even in the hardest times, caregiving is also about creating and cherishing those lasting memories.
Kristie:
That’s right. And I think this sentiment is reflected in what one caregiver shared with me recently. After caring for both of their parents, they said they didn’t remember the hard parts of caregiving. Instead, they only remember the good moments. It really struck me because, when you’re in the thick of caregiving, it can be hard to see the positive aspects. But looking back, those are the moments that stay with you.
Antonia:
It’s important to acknowledge that. We don’t always see it at the time, but those moments can help us push through the tough days. And, as caregivers, those memories can be healing, especially as time passes.
Kristie:
Exactly. You know, this brings me to a conversation I had with someone the other day about how they didn’t identify themselves as a caregiver. And that really resonated with me because I’ve often found that, as caregivers, we don’t always see ourselves as such. We don’t walk around saying, “I’m a caregiver.” We just step into those roles when needed.
Antonia:
Right. It becomes second nature. A lot of times, people don’t realize the caregiving role they’re in until they are asked to identify it. That’s something we need to think about when reaching out to caregivers—making sure they recognize the importance of their role and that they are not alone.
Kristie:
That’s something we’ve really been working on at the Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative—changing the conversation and the language around caregiving. We want caregivers to recognize the importance of what they do and to reach out for the support they deserve.
Antonia:
It’s not just about identifying caregivers; it’s also about empowering them to understand their rights, seek resources, and connect with others who are going through similar experiences. That’s why the work we do together, and the work done by so many community organizations, is so vital.
Kristie:
And I’ve learned so much about caregiving from working with you, Antonia. You’ve taught me a lot about the legal aspects and the importance of advocacy. I know I’m a better advocate because of my own caregiving experience with my brother. The insights I've gained from that have helped me understand the impact caregiving can have on not only the person being cared for but also on the caregiver themselves.
Antonia:
I completely agree. I’ve learned so much from my own caregiving experiences, too. It’s a journey that opens your eyes to a whole new set of challenges and responsibilities, but it also builds resilience, compassion, and advocacy skills that benefit not just your loved ones but others in your community as well.
Kristie:
And as we’ve been talking about, Antonia, one thing that always stands out is how caregiving often brings people together. It fosters a sense of community, even when caregivers feel isolated. For me, one of the most powerful things about caregiving is that it teaches us how to truly be there for each other.
Antonia:
Definitely. And that’s why our work in advocating for caregivers and providing them with the resources they need is so important. Without the right support, it’s easy for caregivers to feel lost or overwhelmed.
Kristie:
Absolutely. Which is why we’re here—through this podcast, our coalition work, and our advocacy, we aim to change the caregiving narrative. We want people to know that there are resources and support systems out there to help them through every step of their caregiving journey.
Antonia:
And, of course, that’s where our community partnerships come into play. We can’t do this work alone. We need to build and strengthen those connections to make sure caregivers have the support they need.
Kristie:
Well said. We also need to keep pushing for the systemic changes that can make caregiving easier for families. Whether it’s through changes in policy, healthcare, or community resources, we all need to play a part in making those changes happen.
Antonia:
Exactly. And for everyone listening today, we encourage you to keep advocating for what’s best for your loved ones and for yourselves. If you’re a caregiver, or if you know someone who is, reach out to those resources. You don’t have to do it alone.
Kristie:
Absolutely. And before we close out, we’d like to remind you that if you’re interested in learning more about what we do at the Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative or how we support caregivers, visit our website at SEMI src.org.
Antonia:
And if you’re looking for resources or guidance on caregiving, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Elder Law and Advocacy Center at Neighborhood Legal Services. You can give us a call at 313-937-8291 for more information on the services we offer.
Kristie:
Thank you all for tuning in to Caregiver Conversations. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with anyone who might benefit from the insights we’ve shared today.
Antonia:
We want to hear from you! If you have thoughts or stories to share, connect with us on social media or through our website.
Kristie:
Until next time, take care and keep caring!
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