CaringBridge

Thanks Solome Tibebu for highlighting Alisha Johnson's post and link to this important read from NPR's Kat McGowan - Caregiving can test you, body and soul. It can also unlock a new sense of self. The article speaks to the identity gap that prevents many #caregivers from seeking support — a key theme in 'caregiver identity theory' developed by Rhonda Montgomery and Karl Kosloski. The theory helps frame caregiving as a major life identity transition, much like marriage or parenthood — making it easier for caregivers to seek and accept help. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers has championed the idea that recognizing the caregiving role is key to building resilience and preventing burnout, helping to popularize caregiver identity theory, ensuring more and more caregivers are recognizing themselves as such. Amanda Cruz shares her transformative journey as a #caregiver for her mother, who battled cancer and suffered a stroke. This profound experience reshaped Amanda's identity, highlighting the deep emotional and psychological shifts that caregiving can induce. And it gave her a name for the support she was providing - "caregiver," "care partner," or "advocate." Key Takeaways: 🧠 Identity Transformation: Caregiving can significantly alter one's sense of self, leading to profound personal growth and change. “Understanding caregiving as an identity transition can help people make sense of this phase of life — just like having a baby, getting married, or switching careers.” — Rhonda Montgomery, PHD, gerontologist, founder of TCARE, Inc. 👂 Enhanced Listening Skills: The role often necessitates becoming more attuned to the non-verbal needs and emotions of the care recipient. Caregivers often become hyper-attuned to subtle cues, especially when verbal communication fades. 💪 Emotional Resilience: Navigating the complexities of caregiving fosters increased patience, empathy, and resilience. "I must pull myself back to put her forward," Cruz said, describing how she surrendered her own needs to center her mother's care — a reflection of profound inner strength and sacrifice. 🤝 Support Systems: Recognizing and seeking support is crucial in managing the challenges and preventing burnout associated with caregiving. “The needs of caregivers are often invisible, and they’re not typically asked how they’re doing.” Allison J. Applebaum, Ph.D., FAPOS. Applebaum emphasizes how caregivers are frequently overlooked in clinical settings, reinforcing the need for emotional and psychological support structures. The stories shared underscore the importance of acknowledging and embracing the changes that come with caregiving, and the value of support systems like CaringBridge in this journey. For more insights, read the full article below.

Welcome to the March series of Bridges of Care (#bridgesofcare), a place where healthcare leaders and our own CaringBridge employees and board members answer five consistent questions that highlight their own personal #caregiving / #healthjourney story and insights. Uncovering themes and universal truths. Giving people a hand to hold on any healthcare journey. All in the name of de-stigmatizing caregiving. My guest this month is Nadia Walker, Communications Leader & Consultant, Mother, #Survivor. Find out why "get it done day" was an essential part of Nadia's healing experience as her care team surrounded her with the support she didn't even know she needed.

From the Big Easy to the Big Apple, last week was spent with other leaders in healthcare discussing big things at WBL (Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation) Summit and Rock Health Digital Health CEO Summit. Discussions focused on changes in policy impact, leading through uncertainty, and innovation focused on outcomes. But importantly, it was about connection and support. My favorite takeaways and quotes from the week. From Valerie Montgomery Rice, a renowned infertility specialist and researcher, president and dean of Morehouse School of Medicine. 💥 "Eduction and mentorship are the great equalizers." 💥 "The challenge that nearly broke me became the catalyst for my greatest leadership opportunity." #facts 💥 Own YOUR voice 💥 Lift as you climb 💥 Make fear work for you From Jennifer Moss, an international speaker, award-winning journalist and author, workplace culture strategist, and cofounder of the Work Better Institute, a global workforce policy think tank. ✨ Two regular practices for your Teams - the 1:1 Check In and the Stay Interview. ✨ 1:1 Check In ?s = 1) What lit you up? 2) What stressed you out? 3) What can we do for each other to make next week easier? ✨ Stay Interview: 1) What makes you stay? 2) What makes you want to leave? From Katya Andresen, a seasoned healthcare and technology executive, helped explore our innate ability to self-assemble into new versions of ourselves. 🚀 As a new CEO, ask four questions to get to know the individuals in the organization but also themes that you need to address. This resonated. 🚀 Why are you here? What's going well? Not? What do you hope / worry I'll do? "We have a bravery deficit." - Eric Griggs, MD Use your voice for action. Do the work! From Rock Health, since it's a closed session, I can't attribute my learnings but suffice it to say, there were a lot of well earned battle scars in the room from seasoned digital health start up veterans. Some of my favs - applicable to for profit and non-profit CEOs - many of which I've learned along my own path: 🔹 Measure mission and vision in your metrics dashboard, not just revenue. 🔹 Hardest thing a fundraising CEO has to do is show up with a smile / positivity to their teams and outside investors / board after 100's of "no's." 🔹 You should always have A+ players... for each stage of growth. What got you here won't get you to the next phase. Know when to trade up and out. And do it quickly. 🔹 CEO has to be the one to step outside and ask if the company is going in the direction needed... and then have the courage to pivot. Rebekah E. Gee MD MPH, Karen Walker Johnson, Ann Kent, Kristy Lindquist, Kelsey Grabenstein, Adrienne Martin, Eleanor Whitley Rosiak, Kristin Apple, Katie Bell, Shelina Davis, MPH MSW, Tara Dziedzic, Katie Drasser, Meg Barron, Laurie McGraw, Mary S. Flipse, Sophia Kim, Caroline Young, Rebecca Messing Haigler, Joanna Strober, Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD, CDN, Susan Bratton, Monica Cepak, MBA

Exciting News for Families!    We're excited to share that our gift card partner, DoorDash (through InComm Payments) announced today that Dollar General is now accepting SNAP/EBT through the DoorDash Marketplace, making it even easier for families to access affordable food options. This is an important step in broadening food access, and we’re grateful to DoorDash for their commitment to this cause!   At CaringBridge, we understand that food security is one of the top three stresses for family caregivers. It’s a key social determinant of health, and we’re dedicated to supporting caregivers and their loved ones on their health journey.   When caregiving for someone with health challenges, every bit of support counts. We're proud to work alongside organizations like DoorDash to help ensure that families have access to the resources they need.   Together, we can ease the journey for caregivers and their loved ones. . . . #CaringBridge #FoodSecurity #FamilyCaregivers #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #DoorDash #SNAP #EBT #HealthJourney

When crisis strikes, CaringBridge is there. “You have cancer…” “There’s been an accident…” “It was sudden and unexpected…” For nearly 28 years, CaringBridge has been the place where families navigate these moments, surrounded by the support of their community—whether through words of encouragement, a shared emoji, or fundraising efforts for unexpected medical expenses. Over the past year, two powerful stories have captured national attention. Both families turned to CaringBridge to keep their communities informed and uplifted: Lulu Gribbin and Andrew Cross. 🔹 Lulu Gribbin’s Story: At just 15 years old, Lulu survived a shark attack that changed her life forever. Losing her right hand and leg, she faced a grueling recovery—but her resilience never wavered. With the support of her family and community, she returned to school just 15 weeks later and continues to inspire through her journey. Her family launched LuluStrong.org to support advancements for amputees. 🔹 Andrew Cross’s Story: Known as "Desert Drifter" on YouTube, Andrew shared his passion for exploration with over 450,000 followers. In early 2025, he was tragically involved in a severe car accident that led to a month-long battle for his life. His family shared updates through CaringBridge, offering a window into their faith, grief, and hope. On March 4, he passed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of adventure and storytelling. 💓 The Power of Community in the Hardest Moments Lulu’s and Andrew’s stories remind us that no one should face hardship alone. Through CaringBridge, their families found a way to stay connected, supported, and uplifted. If you know someone navigating a health journey, remind them: they don’t have to do it alone. #CaringBridge #SupportMatters #LuluStrong #DesertDrifter #Community

Thank you Arif Kamal MD, MBA, for pointing out the dangers in social media, particularly when sharing about a health journey. CaringBridge continues to be a place of connection, support, and healing dedicated to health journeys of any kind... without the negative implications of social media. In fact, first milestone data from an IRB study funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation encouragingly shows 70% of CaringBridge users report that in the first 30 days after creating a page, CaringBridge helped them reduce their burden by engaging their community. Furthermore, three-quarters of respondents reported CaringBridge helped them find emotional support in the first 30 days after creating a page. CaringBridge is a non-profit social connection and support platform that is ad free and doesn't sell data. Created 28 years ago, it was the first social connection site created for good... and has stayed that way. #socialconnection #socialmediaforgood #healthjourney #nonprofit #emotionalsupport #functionalsupport

Deb Haas posted this comment which was too good not to share. It captures the value of CaringBridge perfectly. Please reshare if it hits you. "CaringBridge has been my ride-or-die through some of the hardest chapters of my life. I’ve turned to it multiple times to coordinate support for family and friends during health crises. When everything felt like chaos, CaringBridge made it simple: 💬 Keep everyone updated (without 57 group texts). 🥘 🚗 🆘 Rally meals, rides, and help (without awkward asks). 💓 Feel held by community (without ads for yoga pants showing up mid-meltdown). That’s what a purpose-driven organization does. It lifts you when life knocks you flat. It connects people when connection is survival. It reminds you that even in hard times, you’re never alone. But here’s the kicker: CaringBridge is doing this life-changing work with 45 employees. Meta? 74,000. Let that sink in. And CaringBridge runs on heart, not data sales. No ads. No creepy tracking. Just a safe, simple space to get the support you need." CaringBridge vision: A world where no one goes through a health journey alone. And we can't do this without support. #community #caregiversupport #healthjourney #missiondriven #nonprofit

Thank you to The New York Times and Jancee Dunn for spotlighting the struggles we face immediately following a health diagnosis AND serving up great practical solutions. And to Stephanie Alonso, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C from UChicago Medicine for highlighting CaringBridge as one of those practical solutions. 🗣️ “There are many times where I hear people say, ‘I told all these people. And now I’m being just flooded with people checking in on me... The exhaustion of telling the same thing over and over again is real...’” As a non-profit we work with hospitals, social workers, and healthcare systems to make sure that everyone has access to community support during recovery, no matter their financial situation or circumstances. Anyone can create a page and ask for help. In a space where they will not be bombarded with ads or worry that their data is being sold. If we’re going to provide relief and support to the 105M family caregivers in the US, we have to build and scale solutions that work for all Americans, no matter where you live or what your insurance is... ensuring that no one goes through a health journey alone. #healthcrisis #healthjourneysupport #familycaregiver #digitalhealthplatform #philanthropy #impact

This week, the CaringBridge team traded in our virtual backgrounds for real-life high-fives, brainstorming, and maybe even a few heartfelt moments. ✨💜 We brought in every employee for an unforgettable week of connection, collaboration, and community-building—three things that are at the heart of everything we do. From inspiring conversations to strategy sessions (and yes, some serious bonding over food and games), this week reminded us why our work matters. A special highlight? Entrepreneur and speaker Tissa Richards shared powerful insights on resilience —reinforcing just how important it is to respond vs react and even how life-changing a strong support system can be for those on a health journey. And our CEO, Tia Newcomer, challenged us all to lean into that support—not just for our users but for each other. At CaringBridge, we believe no one should go through a health journey alone. And after a week of coming together in person, we’re more energized than ever to carry that mission forward. To our incredible team: Thank you for showing up with passion, ideas, and a whole lot of heart. Here’s to an amazing year ahead! 💪💜 #CaringBridge #StrongerTogether #MissionDriven #Collaboration #Community #Resilience #TeamBuilding #EmployeeEngagement #Inspiration

An honor to speak last week in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Frontiers Symposium on Transformation in Cancer Care Delivery. Being surrounded by oncologists, surgeons, fellows, and researchers all focused on three objectives: 1️⃣ Exploring and showcasing innovative and technological best practices in cancer care delivery 2️⃣ Bringing together expert stakeholders to discuss opportunities for transformation in cancer care delivery 3️⃣ Increasing awareness of needed skillsets for reducing distance as a disparity and advancing cancer care delivery for rural and other underserved populations With over 50% of health journeys on CaringBridge being cancer related, this was an opportunity to bring family caregivers and the impact of surrounding them and their patients with community support to the forefront. Some notable takeaways and quotes: 🩺 The average cancer patient has 32 (!) providers during their cancer journey and 80% of cancer care occurs outside the treating medical center. Liya Shuster-Bier Maia Oncology 💡 A culture of innovation has to be top down and measured and supported by values. Be Bold. Think Different. Do the Right Thing. Karen Knudsen MBA PhD Stephen Klasko 💸 3% of the GDP is spent in cancer and yet access is still low in underserved populations. Othman Laraki 📉 Since 1991 there has been a 34% reduction in cancer mortality rates driven by early detection and preventative practices. To maintain these improvements, cancer research needs to gain funding and resources. American Cancer Society 💽 Standards and transparency will be the biggest issue in using AI in healthcare. Data consistency and homogeneity is important as organizations start integrating AI. Caroline Chung 🥼 AI will not replace doctors, but doctors who use AI will replace doctors who don't. Richard Boxer, MD, FACS A special thanks to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for hosting a reception and tour of your amazing facilities. The Huntsman family built this facility to ensure access to top cancer care in the region. And will continue to invest until cancer is cured... at which time the facility will be turned into the Huntsman Hotel. I look forward to that day. And am confident of the progress ahead of us with such bright minds collectively working towards a #cancercure. Thomas Varghese Jr. MD, MS, MBA, FACS, MAMSE, Arif Kamal MD, MBA, Tracy Onega, Robert Daly, Kathi Mooney, Neli Ulrich, Ruben Mesa, MD, Wade Swenson, Jessica Moehle, Sachin M. Apte, MD, MS, MBA, Kaila (McDonald) Christini, Victoria Bandera, Adriana M Coletta PhD RD, Bridget Nicholson, Hil Moss, Whitney Maxwell Espinel, MMSc, Vanessa Paul Patterson, Thomas Osborne, MD, Neeraj Agarwal, MD, FASCO, Katharine Rendle, Alexander Pearson, Jonathan Tward, Alyson Moadel, Yang Yi, Kensaku Kawamoto, MD, PhD, MHS, FACMI, FAMIA, Chelsey Schlechter, Melissa Swartz, MBA, Shanthi Sivendran MD, MSCR, MBA, Carl Asche, Amelia Thelin