Nicole Will was 15 years old when her grandma came to live with her family, which marked the beginning of many changes in her life. As her teenage years progressed, Nicole's mom was pulled in many directions between taking care of her children and her mother. Nicole had to work through complicated emotions as she experienced her mom's attention being divided between loved ones. These same emotions would resurface again when in 2006, as Nicole was pregnant with her first child, her aunt moved to Minnesota from California and needed care from her mother. To Nicole's surprise, her grandma and aunt both ended up in the senior living community where she worked. This gave her the unexpected gift of time with her mother as an adult. Despite the hardships, Nicole found compassion for her mother, who was trying to be there for everyone.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1) How Nicole navigated the complexities of serving as both grandchild and teen caregiver for her grandmother as a 15-year-old.
2) The effects of her grandmother moving in on Nicole's relationship with her mother.
3) How Nicole's experience of caring for both her grandmother and aunt shaped her professional life and her relationship with her mother.
About Nicole:
Nicole Will is a passionate advocate dedicated to enhancing the well-being of the aging community. She collaborates and cheers on others, sharing their good work. As the founder of willGather, she provides valuable information and resources to older adults, family caregivers, and eldercare professionals. Additionally, Nicole hosts and produces the willGather Podcast: Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One and in honor of her grandmother, founded Gigi Betty co. by willGather, a boutique gift shop raising money for family caregivers.
Nicole has over 20 years of experience in aging and senior living services. Inspiration from her close relationship with her grandmother led her to obtain a degree in Human Services: Social Gerontology with NCCAP certification. She served as Director at a large senior living community while leading her team to success. Additionally, she was part of the MAPA board and an adjuvant faculty member at the University of St. Catherine. Her hands-on approach continues to foster an understanding of family caregiver needs through advocacy efforts.
Connect with Nicole:
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
