When Caregiving Finds You with Dr. Shruti Roy & Nicole àBeckett, Founders of HeroGeneration
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
Release Date: 03/12/2025
Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One
How do we measure quality care in a way that truly supports families? In this episode, Nicole sits down with Ben Harder, Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News & World Report, to explore the heart and science behind the 2026 Best Nursing Homes ratings. Together, they break down the updated methodology, what makes top-performing facilities stand out, and how families can use these insights to make confident, compassionate decisions, whether navigating short-term rehab or long-term care. This conversation brings clarity to a system that often feels overwhelming, offering a...
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At 26, Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed became a full-time caregiver for her mom living with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Now a leading advocate and educator, Jessica is reshaping how we understand the intersection of career and caregiving. In this conversation, she and host Nicole Will explore love, equity, and representation in care, what it means to be seen, to lead with compassion, and to build a world where every caregiver’s story belongs. To learn more, visit: To connect with Jessica, visit: LinkedIn: Thank you to our Sponsor is a therapeutic dementia care platform that...
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When her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration at just 29, Katie Brandt’s life changed overnight. What began as confusion and heartbreak became a lifelong calling to transform how we see, support, and study dementia. Today, Katie is the Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations at the , and the Founder & CEO of . In this conversation, we talk about what it means to become a “caregiver detective”, the quiet observer, the record keeper, the advocate who pieces together the truth when something feels off. We explore how early and accurate diagnosis...
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Comedian , known for her specials on Hulu and YouTube, opens up about her personal journey as a caregiver for her mom with Frontotemporal Dementia. In this heartfelt conversation, Kelsey shares the early signs she noticed, the trauma of crisis care, and the challenges of supporting her mom from a distance. She reflects on how humor has been a lifeline, how advocacy became part of her purpose, and why community connection matters now more than ever. Follow Kelsey and check out her work and podcast! Thank you to our Sponsor is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports...
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When caregiving became her world overnight, Andrea Suchin’s life changed forever. Her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia at 54, leaving Andrea to navigate full-time caregiving while raising four children. Sleepless nights and overwhelming stress became her reality. Out of that journey, Andrea and her sister created Wuggle™, a deep touch pressure sleep cap designed to bring calm and restorative rest. In this episode, Andrea shares her story of resilience, the creation of Wuggle™, and how better sleep can transform the caregiving journey. To learn more about Wuggle...
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At 85, Jean Ketcham is just getting started. As the bold voice behind Aging But Dangerous, Jean reminds us that aging isn’t about the body, it’s about the soul. In this lively conversation, we talk about skydiving, style, friendship, caregiving, and yes, even vibrators. With her signature sass, fearless honesty, and contagious energy, Jean shows us how to embrace every year fully confident, empowered, and unstoppable. To connect with Jean and learn more visit Thank you to our Sponsor is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. Creating engaging,...
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When Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) entered their lives, everything changed for Nanci Anderson and her daughters, Lindsay Early and Emily Anderson. In this conversation, they open their hearts about the long and confusing road to Gary’s diagnosis, the challenges of caregiving, and the deep grief of watching someone you love slip away too soon. They also share the turning point, when they chose to honor Gary by creating Gary’s FUB Team and raising awareness through advocacy and community. This is a story of heartbreak and resilience, of carrying love forward, and of finding purpose in the...
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Most people think aging is about endings. shows us it’s about beginning again. In this episode, filmmaker Sarah Friedland, actress Kathleen Chalfant, executive director Shaun Rushforth, and resident Jean Owen of , take us behind the scenes of this award-winning film that reimagines aging, dementia, and caregiving through dignity, creativity, and collaboration. A must-listen for family caregivers and senior living advocates. We go behind the scenes of Familiar Touch—filmed at Villa Gardens, a Front Porch Community. What does it mean to open your doors, your story, and your heart to a film...
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Last year, I had the privilege of joining as a Jury member, award presenter, and speaker. Meeting changemakers and those that reshaping aging care around the globe brings hope to our future, and we still have work to do! I left inspired by the global momentum to rethink how we support aging populations. Every conversation, every connection, reminded me that “Care and love are universal.” In this episode, I share a glimpse into our time last year and re-share my interview with the founder, Jerome Pigniez. He shares about The SilverNight Awards, and the is an event that unites global...
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What if your deepest caregiving experience became the blueprint for changing the system? Dr. Francesca Falzarano was just 14 when her mother was diagnosed with dementia—an experience that shaped not only her identity, but her life’s work. Now an Assistant Professor of Gerontology at USC and founder of the , Francesca is studying the full arc of caregiving—from diagnosis to grief. In this conversation, she shares how personal loss inspired a research mission, what caregivers actually need (and when), and how technology and storytelling can foster healing and connection. Whether you're a...
info_outlineWhat happens when the people who raised us, cared for us, and shaped our lives suddenly need us to step in and care for them? For many, caregiving doesn’t arrive as a sudden, clear-cut role—it sneaks in gradually. At first, it's just helping with a few things here and there. Then, one day, you look up and realize you’ve become a caregiver. Today, we’re talking about what it means to step into this role as well as balancing our own lives while ensuring our loved ones receive the care they need.
Joining me are two women who know this journey firsthand. Nicole àBeckett spent over eight years as a caregiver for both of her parents—supporting her father through cancer and serving as the primary caregiver for her mother, who battled a debilitating lung disease. She admits that, at the time, she didn’t even recognize herself as a caregiver. It was just what she did for family. Alongside her personal caregiving experience, Nicole is a seasoned tech entrepreneur with two decades of experience in scaling startups. She’s turning that same energy toward solving challenges in caregiving.
Dr. Shruti Roy is a mom of three and a pediatrician who has spent years supporting families in emergency and urgent care settings. But when the care of her parents became part of her reality—her father diagnosed with Parkinson’s and her mother managing an autoimmune condition—she quickly realized how broken and unsupported the system is for family caregivers. Like many, she was thrown into the role without a roadmap, and that experience fuels her determination to help others.
Today, we’ll talk all about the lessons they’ve learned, the gaps they’re working to fill, and the ways we can all be better prepared for the caregiving road ahead. Caregiving often arrives unnoticed. Nicole àBeckett & Dr. Shruti Roy share personal stories, challenges, and solutions for navigating the caregiver journey. Don't miss this episode and learn how you can find the support you need.
Learn more about HeroGeneration HERE.
Thank you to our Sponsors
HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE.
Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. creates engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.
We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.
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