Season Eight continues with an intimate conversation about caregiving, identity, and the small “glimmers” that shape family connection. In this heartfelt episode, Anika speaks with mother–daughter duo Jacqueline and Olivia Vong about how memory, resilience, and cultural expectations inform their caregiving journey. Jacqueline reflects on growing up with a strong and stylish mother who balanced independence, career success, and caring for aging relatives. Now navigating the “sandwich generation,” she shares how those early examples prepared her to support Olivia through her recent cognitive changes.
Together, they discuss the invisible load of caregiving and the stigma surrounding dementia in many Asian communities, including how language can deepen or challenge that stigma. Olivia offers insights into the routines and passions (especially fashion) that keep her feeling grounded and joyful. Jacqueline recalls stories that capture her mother’s spirit, including her ability to turn any moment, even a business dinner, into a vibrant celebration.
Their exchange highlights the importance of boundaries, self-care, and redefining what aging with dignity can look like. This episode invites listeners to celebrate the glimmers, generations, and all the fabulous “Glamma” moments that make caregiving and family unforgettable.
Olivia Vong and her daughter, Jacqueline, share a powerful intergenerational story of migration, memory, identity, and love.
Born in Hong Kong and later settling in Canada, Olivia is remembered as a true fashion icon, the life of the party, a woman of extraordinary energy, positivity, and style.
Her joie de vivre shaped everyone around her, but especially her only daughter, Jacqueline, to whom she passed her strength, resilience, and unshakeable belief in showing up with grace even through life's hardest chapters.
Now part of the sandwich generation, Jacqueline is raising two young children while caring for Olivia, who lives with dementia, a condition that spans three generations in their family. Through this experience, Jacqueline has become an advocate for caregivers and Asian communities, openly addressing the cultural stigma surrounding dementia, aging, and mental health. She speaks to the importance of preserving dignity, celebrating identity, and reframing what “aging gracefully” means for Asian families.
Together, Olivia and Jacqueline have become emerging voices in the caregiving space. They were featured on the cover of Mind Matters magazine, spotlighting their caregiving journey, and have appeared in panel discussions and editorial features that highlight the power of storytelling to connect families across generations. Jacqueline’s advocacy extends through her work with the Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA), where she champions awareness, education, and culturally safe supports for caregivers.
On Root & Seed, Olivia and Jacqueline share a story that is personal yet universal, a tribute to heritage, memory, and the enduring spark of a mother who taught her daughter to live boldly, beautifully, and with endless heart.
