As the U.S. population ages, the caregiving burden continues to grow. At some point, many individuals will find themselves caring for a friend, family member, or loved one. AMWA launched this initiative in 2020 to raise awareness, provide resources, and—most importantly—sound a call to action for a pressing public health issue: caring for the caregiver. This work intersects with AMWA’s broader efforts in dementia care, rare disease, and women’s health. National initiatives like the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, launched by the Biden Administration in 2024, underscore the growing recognition of the need to support both patients and their caregivers.
Inspirational Stories From Caregivers
Lori’s Journey: Insights on Caregiving for Someone with Alzheimer’s
Laurie’s Story is one of Adapting to Thrive with Dementia
Wine, Women, and Dementia
A poignant, hilarious, and honest portrayal of caregiving and dementia
This film follows the journey of former dementia family caregiver and filmmaker, Kitty Norton, as she embarks on a cross-country RV adventure with her best friend, Beth Rigazio, to meet the dementia family caregivers who provided virtual friendship and encouragement through their shared caregiver experiences.
Through these face-to-face encounters, Norton seeks to deepen her understanding of the caregiving experience, and highlight the vital support that caregivers provide to one another, despite the physical distance between them.
“It’s a roadtrip connecting the disconnected – because until there’s a cure, there’s community.”
From the Blog: Caring for the Woman Who Once Cared for Me
My mother spent more than 30 years as a New York City public school teacher and guidance counselor, a real force to be reckoned with. When I was five, she warned me that if I didn’t let her brush my hair, she’d cut it herself.
I ended up with a very short haircut.
I grew up to be a general internist and hospital administrator. Yet none of my training, experience, or years as a parent prepared me for having to wrestle with my mom over her shampooing, bathing, and dressing as she navigates life at 90 with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Here’s a glimpse into one evening of that journey
– Karen L. Jerome, MD
Short Film: Personal Journey of a Caregiver
Susie Singer Carter cared for her mother as she declined with dementia and spent her final years in a nursing home. Drawing from that experience, Susie offers powerful insights into the emotional and practical challenges family caregivers face when supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
A multi-award-winning filmmaker, writer, director, producer, actor, and podcast host, Susie is best known for her 2018 Oscar-qualified short film My Mom and the Girl, starring Valerie Harper in her final performance.
She is also a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, frequently speaking at events and appearing in campaigns for Alzheimer’s Los Angeles. In 2022, she proudly emceed the San Fernando Valley Alzheimer’s Walk, holding up a purple flower in honor of her mother, who passed away that July.
In 2023, AMWA hosted a screening of My Mom and the Girl followed by a discussion with Susie Singer Carter.
Caregiving in Alzheimer’s Disease
AMWA partners with CareBrains to offer guidance on managing the caregiver-physician relationship. Watch this presentation by Jodi Lyons of CareBrain – Caregiving in AD: What the Physician Needs to Know – to see how you can provide the best care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Film – Caregiver: A Love Story
Award-winning film (Best Short Documentary, SF Jewish Film Festival 2020) by Dr. Jessica Zitter, (author of Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life)
Caregiver: A Love Story highlights an essential, yet largely unseen workforce–the family caregivers of America…When 59-year-old Bambi decides to forgo further treatment for her cancer and die at home her husband Rick leaves his job to become her primary caregiver–a role for which he has no experience and little support.
2023 – Film Screening of Wine, Women, and Dementia and discussion with filmmaker Kitty Norton
2023 – My Mom and the Girl screening and discussion with Susie Singer Carter
2021 – Film Screening of Caregiver: A Love Story and discussion with filmmaker Dr. Jessica Zitter
Event Supporters
Gold Level
Dr. Shahnaz Fatteh
Bronze Level
Dr. Karen Jerome
Dr. Laurel Waters & Jeanne Robertson
Drs. Eliza & Doug Chin
Friend
Dawn Wyllie, MD, MPH
Molly Mccormick
Dr. Julianne Dean
Amanda Coggin
Ally
Ellen Singer
Constance U. Battle, MD
Eveline Wu MFT
Kolby Miller
Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber
Dr. Ora Pescovitz
Doug Mosher & Carla Din
- Unpaid Family Caregiving—The Next Frontier of Gender Equity in a Postpandemic Future (JAMA Health Forum)
- Caregiving in the US 2020 (NAC and AARP, 2020)
- Caregiver Care (Swartz and Collins, American Family Physician, 2019)
- Sharing the Care – A Patient and Her Caregivers (JAMA Internal Medicine)
This initiative was started in AMWA in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Zitter and the film, Caregiver: A Love Story. Thanks to Emily Chen (AMWA project coordinator), Kayla Li (AMWA Assistant Director), and AMWA student researchers Magda Wojtara and Brianna Fitzpatrick with Dr. Eliza Chin (AMWA Executive Director)