Caregiver Mental Wellness

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Caregiver Mental Wellness

Caregiver self-help, foster family support, and advocate for caregiver friendly work environments. Carolyn Dowdy, the founder of Caregiver Mental Wellness, Inc.

is a retired professional from the banking industry with a background in human resources, operations, consulting and training. In addition to her professional experience, she's an informal caregiver. Carolyn's profound vision led to the creation of Caregiver Mental Wellness, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing charitable and educational initiatives to support the burnout and mental health crisis faced by caregivers. The company aims to raise awareness about these issues through individuals and businesses dedicated to caregiver advocacy, offer valuable wellness tips to alleviate stress and anxiety among caregivers, and provide consulting services with businesses to establish a "Caregiver Advocate Business" program. She invites all of you to become advocates for our caregivers by promoting awareness through social media! We have over fifty-three million caregivers in the U. S., 20% are depressed and 61% of workforce are also caregivers. Invite your friends, families, employers, organizations and businesses to visit our website and follow us. Our website www.caregivermentalwellness.com!

12/11/2025

The holidays can be beautiful, but they can also be overwhelming—especially for parents and other caregivers who give so much of themselves all year long.

As you care for others this season, we hope you also find moments to rest, breathe, and feel appreciated. Your love, your strength, and your matter more than you know.

12/09/2025

The Mental Health Toll Caregivers Rarely Talk About...

A new Women's Health article published this month highlights what so many caregivers quietly carry: exhaustion, isolation, shifting identity, and the constant “on-alert” stress that comes with caring for someone you love.

Many feel they’re navigating impossible systems while trying to protect their own mental health.

But connection helps. Caregivers in the article shared that support groups, therapy, routines, and finding even a small circle of people who truly understand can make a powerful difference.

At Caregiver Mental Wellness, we’re here to remind you: you don’t have to do this alone.

👉 Read the entire article here: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a69176670/the-mental-health-toll-caregivers-rarely-talk-about/

Article Written by: Shelley Flannery

12/05/2025

Grateful Beyond Words 🤍

A huge thank you to everyone who supported Caregiver Mental Wellness this Giving Tuesday. Whether you donated, shared our message, tagged a caregiver, or simply held space for this mission — please know that your support truly matters.

Every contribution helps us expand our educational programs, build community partnerships, and provide self-care resources for caregivers facing the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of caring for someone they love.

You are helping us change the story for caregivers. And for that, we are so thankful!

12/03/2025

✨ Caregiver Spotlight: Advisory Board Member Jane G. Clark, MPA, CPS ✨

We’re honored to spotlight Jane Clark, whose personal caregiving journey fuels her commitment to Caregiver Mental Wellness.

When her young son spent years moving through what she calls the “diagnostic whirlwind,” Jane and her husband—both behavioral health professionals—still found the system confusing and overwhelming. It wasn’t until age 10 that their son finally received the correct autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Just one month later, he told her, “Mom—I don’t feel broken anymore.” That moment reshaped everything.

Through her experience, Jane realized how many families silently navigate similar uncertainty. She shares that even she didn’t initially see herself as a “caregiver”—and how important it is for parents, spouses, and loved ones to recognize the role they’re already fulfilling. Naming it opens doors to support, resources, and community. Jane now brings her experience and heart to Caregiver Mental Wellness to ensure families don’t feel lost or alone the way hers sometimes did.

Today, her advocacy centers on awareness, connection, and resilience, reminding caregivers that their well-being matters just as much as the person they love. Her message is simple and powerful: You are not alone.

👉 Read Jane’s full story on the Caregiver Mental Wellness website: https://caregivermentalwellness.com/caregiving-redefined-one-familys-journey-with-autism-author-jane-clark-mpa-cps/

Photo Credit: EYT Photography

12/01/2025

This Giving Tuesday, help parents and caregivers be seen and supported.
GivingTuesdayCLT powered by SHARE Charlotte and supported by Lowe's Home Improvement. Thank you!

Look around — it could be you, a family member, a friend, or a coworker quietly caring for children, aging parents, or loved ones.

Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000, helping us:
• Fund workshops teaching self-care and stress reduction
• Host speaking engagements to raise awareness
• Advertising on social media to reach more parents and caregivers.

Plus, the first 300 donations to nonprofits on the ShareCharlotte site starting December 2 at 12:01 am will receive a $50. gift certificate from Lowe's.

Testimonials:
• “Amanda said, ‘I brought my mom to your workshop. My mom never realized she was a caregiver, it changed our lives. She took the information and turned it into an action plan to take care of herself!
• “Christina, a therapist, said, ‘Your website resources are exceptional. I’m sharing them with colleagues, parents and caregivers.

Ways to Help Beyond Giving:
• Volunteer with our awareness campaign https://sharecharlotte.org/nonprofit/caregiver-mental-wellness-inc -views-block-content-volunteer-opportunities-block
• Share our resources with family, friends, and coworkers www.caregiverrmentalwellness.com
• Invite us to speak in your community or workplace www.caregivermentalwellness.com/contact
• Follow us on social media
(www.facebook.com/cargivermentalwellness)
(www.linked.on/company/caregivermentalwellness) (www.instagram.com/caregivermentalwellness)

Double your impact this Giving Tuesday — donate today!
Donate Now at https://sharecharlotte.org/donate?nonprofit=11398

11/28/2025

Double Your Impact This Giving Tuesday – December 2!

This Giving Tuesday, your support goes twice as far to make our unseen parents and caregivers in our community seen and supported. They care for our most vulnerable, our children and elderly every day!

We’re inviting you to Love Local, Give Local.

Powered by SHARE Charlotte and presented by Lowe's Home Improvement, brings together hundreds of Charlotte nonprofits, businesses, and neighbors to strengthen our community through collective generosity.

The first 300 donors who give $50 or more to participating non-profits on December 2 will have their donation matched by Lowe’s in the form of a $50 electronic gift card given to the nonprofit. That means, if you donate to us, your generosity will help twice as many parents and caregivers in our community!

How to Give to our Charitable Non-Profit:

Go to our donate link: https://sharecharlotte.org/donate?nonprofit=11398
1. Starting at 12:01 AM on December 2.
2. Click “Donate” to access our PayPal donation page.
3. Donate $50 or more and your gift will be matched (while the first 300 matches last for all participating non-profits)!

Important:
• Your donation helps us receive a matching $50 gift card from Lowe’s for every qualifying donation.
• Gift cards will be sent electronically to our nonprofit a few days after .

This is a one-day opportunity to make your support go further and help parents and caregivers feel seen, supported, and valued. Thank you for joining us to make a difference!

11/27/2025

Give thanks… and give yourself grace.

This Thanksgiving, as we gather with family and loved ones, we want to honor the caregivers — the parents, spouses, adult children, grandparents, and friends who quietly hold so much together behind the scenes.

Caregiving is an act of love.

But it’s also emotional, exhausting, and often invisible.

Today, we hope you pause long enough to:

💛 Care for yourself
💛 Rest your mind and body
💛 Receive help when it’s offered
💛 Allow gratitude to include you, too

And if you’re supporting a caregiver — check in on them, lift some of the load, or simply remind them they’re seen.

From all of us at Caregiver Mental Wellness, we’re grateful for you.

Wishing you a peaceful and restorative Thanksgiving.

11/25/2025

Making the Invisible Visible: A Caregiver Story in the Spotlight ❤️

USA TODAY recently shared the emotional caregiving journey of Jay Leno and his wife, Mavis, who is living with dementia. Beyond the headlines, their story reflects what millions of family caregivers navigate daily—grief that repeats itself, memory loss that reshapes routines, and the constant emotional weight of supporting someone you love.

Jay spoke about the heartbreak of watching Mavis relive her mother’s passing “every day for three years,” a reality many dementia caregivers quietly endure.

Despite the hardships, the article also highlights the tenderness and creativity that caregiving requires. Jay uses humor to bring connection and dignity into difficult moments—calling their walk to the bathroom “Jay and Mavis at the prom.” Even in the toughest tasks, he finds ways to make her smile, sharing, “When she looks at me and says she loves me, I melt.”

As we honor National Family Caregivers Month, this story reminds us why visibility matters. Nearly 63 million Americans have cared for a loved one in the past year, often juggling profound emotional responsibilities behind the scenes. Caregivers deserve recognition, support, and community—now more than ever.

👉 Learn more about how Caregiver Mental Wellness is supporting families: https://caregivermentalwellness.com/

Photo credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection Jay Leno and Mavis Leno in 1979.

11/24/2025

The Art of Caregiving event in Hickory, NC

Presented by Carolina Caring in partnership with the Hickory Museum of Art and Arts Culture Catawba at The SALT Block, Hickory, NC

What a timely and meaningful event during National Family Caregiver Month. The Art of Caregiving event brought the community together in a powerful way to support caregivers, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

A huge thank-you to the incredible team at Carolina Caring — Kelly Tate VP-Patient and Caregiving Experience, Tara Bland, CFRE, (Executive Director), Beth Schlosser, Julie Packer, Deanna O'Neill, and the entire staff — for skillfully organizing such a thoughtful and impactful experience.

Hundreds from across the community attended, participating in an inspiring event to include:
--A Caregiver Resource Fair offering tools, services, and support
--A moving PBS documentary screening. Bradley Cooper, Executive Producer, for the PBS documentary "Caregiving" which raised awareness nationally on the emotional and practical challenges caregivers face every day.
--A curated expert panel discussion bringing together professionals who offered insight shaped by both expertise and personal experience.

Curated Conversation Panelists:
Moderator:
• Kelly Tate, VP, Patient & Caregiver Experience, Carolina Caring
Panelists:
• Mary Mitchell, WPCOG Area Agency on Aging
• Vince Bartome, ACAP Hickory, Chapter Coordinator
• Carolyn Dowdy, President/Founder, Caregiver Mental Wellness, Inc.
• Annette Walker, Director of Support Services, Carolina Caring
• Pastor Tamika Garrison, Director of Community Relations, Carolina Caring

The event provided invaluable resources, emotional support, and a deep sense of connection for caregivers and those who stand beside them.

For 45 years, Carolina Caring has tirelessly served our community, providing compassionate hospice and palliative care for adults and children; plus. much more! They walk alongside families, offering comfort, peace of mind, and support even in life’s hardest moments.

11/22/2025

Giving Tuesday is coming—Dec 2!

Are you a parent of a child with special needs or a chronic illness, an adult child caring for aging parents, or a spouse supporting a loved one? Look around—you’re not alone. Millions of parents and caregivers quietly care for others every day.

We’re participating in , Charlotte’s local Giving Tuesday powered by SHARE Charlotte and presented by Lowe's Home Improvement. There will be so many ways to support our charitable non-profit to get involved—volunteer, join our community, share our mission, or give—to support caregivers’ self-care and resources to help prevent stress and burnout.

Follow us, share our content, and mark your calendar for Dec 2—you won’t want to miss it!

11/21/2025

What an incredible experience yesterday at the 20th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference! It was truly an impressive and beautifully organized event—huge congratulations to the The Chamber of Catawba County and their team who orchestrated such an impressive conference. I met some of their wonderful team, their fearless leader, President and CEO, Lindsay Keisler, IOM, CCE and VP of Operations, Kim Dahlsten, IOM, CCEC. The leadership conference was presented by Catawba Valley Health System.

Our President, Carolyn Dowdy was honored to serve as a breakout speaker discussing “Future-Focused Leadership: Aligning Culture with Workforce Realities.” As part of our awareness strategy, she speaks at conferences, businesses and other organizations highlighting parents and other caregivers as a vital part of today’s modern workforce and explores strategies organizations can use to better understand caregivers work–life challenges. She shared practical solutions to help employers retain and attract top talent, and strategies to transform their internal culture as the workforce continues to change.

We want to recognize all the exceptional speakers who contributed their expertise, passion, and insight throughout the event. Each brought something valuable and inspiring:

Jeanne Sparrow, Keynote Speaker, "Fearless Authenticity: Walk in Your Power as a Leader"
Alexa Carlin, Closing Speaker, "The Confidence Spectrum"

Breakout Speakers:

Charlene Ridley, MBA, “Heart Goals: A Bold New Framework for Purpose-Driven Work & Leadership”
Nicole Greer, CEO, CSP, PPCC, MSOD, “Eat that Frog for Maximum Productivity”
Kim Angeli, “How to be Unforgettable in a Noisy World” Michele Sedney, “Mastering Emotional Intelligence”
Colleen Dick, “Strategies to Maximize Professional”
Jeanne Sparrow, “Uncovering Authenticity: Discovering Your Value”
Kristy Kuhl, MBA, “Overcoming Imposter Syndrome”
Michelle Cabell, “Thinking Life a Leader: How to Elevate Your Mindset and Influence"
Freda Phifer, “Building Resilience, It’s Your Core Work”

We've included photos from the event—swipe to see the highlights and celebrate the amazing voices who made this conference unforgettable.

11/20/2025

Today’s the day!

We are proud to celebrate Carolyn Dowdy, Founder & President of Caregiver Mental Wellness, as she takes the stage as a breakout speaker at the 20th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference sponsored by The Chamber of Catawba County and presented by Catawba Valley Health System.

📍 Hickory Metro Convention Center
📅 November 20, 2025
⏰ 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Carolyn will be presenting:

“Future Focused Leadership: Aligning Culture with Workforce Realities.”

In a moment where burnout, workforce challenges, and the mental load on families are at an all-time high, Carolyn brings a powerful and timely message about creating cultures where people — especially parents and other caregivers — can thrive. Her session equips leaders with tools to understand shifting workforce needs, support the unseen responsibilities employees carry at home, and build environments rooted in empathy, sustainability, and human-centered leadership.

Attendees will spend the day connecting, learning, and shopping local through the Experience Center and Shop Local Marketplace — and we’re thrilled that Carolyn’s insights will be part of this empowering event.

If you're at the conference today, be sure to stop by her session!

Address

Concord, NC

Telephone

+17706532389

Website

http://www.caregivermentalwellness.com/

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