Hi everyone! My name is Laura and I am one half of Caregiver Collaborative! I love ice breakers. So let’s start with two truths and a lie (you’ll have to read to the bottom to find out the lie!):
- I had braces for 11 years.
- I can twirl fire.
- I’m terrified of cats.
I am originally from Wisconsin but have lived in Minnesota for over a decade. I went to college at University of Wisconsin- La Crosse and met some of my very best friends. I am fortunate that this group remains close today and they are some of my biggest supporters. It was through one of these friends that I met my now husband, Nathan. We got married in 2018 on a beach in Belize. We love to travel and explore new places together and with our dog, Sunny D. She may be the laziest dog in the world and we love that about her. She doesn’t get up unless it’s to go outside or for food, and I can’t say I blame her! I am the stereotypical millennial that has amassed a nice plant collection throughout the pandemic and my list of favorite podcasts is always growing.
While I am not a caregiver myself, I have many family members and friends who provide care in some sort of capacity. In addition to this, I am a clinical social worker. Throughout my career I have worked in mental health and supported families who are navigating the complex world of healthcare and insurance. I saw time and time again that those who were providing care and support were doing so at the expense of their own wellness and, oftentimes, at the expense of the quality of the relationship with their care recipient.
It always broke my heart when I would talk to a sister or brother and they were so lost and confused about how to keep moving forward with the support of their sibling. Or a parent who was trying so hard to care for their adult child in a way that balanced the vision they had for their child and what was actually possible in that moment. It was so evident the deep love and care they had, but it was also clear that sometimes that love got in the way. It, understandably, impacted their judgment of the situation and made them feel responsible for making sure that every detail, every need, and every question was taken care of. It wasn’t sustainable and it definitely wasn’t healthy.
Fast forward to 2021, I started listening to a podcast called Pursuing Her Purpose (if you’re at all interested in starting your own business I highly recommend it!) and felt the nudge to do more. To take my passions and values and create something that filled a need. It was at this time that my uncle started experiencing significant health problems. There was so much uncertainty in what was happening for him, but whatever it was it was impacting every aspect of his life. My cousins are amazing and jumped in to care for their dad. This also coincided with life changes for both of my cousins. One was having her second child and the other was a teacher trying to wrap up the school year and had recently moved. All this to say, they needed help to figure out what to do. What to do about finances and insurance. How to access specialists and care. How to make sure he was safe as he lived alone at the time. It was evident this was the gap I could fill; supporting caregivers as they navigated caregiving, some for the first time. Giving guidance and direction on where to start and validation that it is not only okay to not have all the answers but it is unrealistic to have all the answers.
By this time Erin and I had been friends for seven years and we had many conversations about starting our own business. I knew she was the one to call. With this Caregiver Collaborative was born. You can read more about how we got started here. My hope is that all caregivers feel a sense of connection with others. I want caregivers to feel confident in their ability to care for themselves as they care for others.
Now for the lie: I cannot twirl fire. BUT my mom did when she was younger!
