Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One

willGather, Nicole Will
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What if the journey of aging and caregiving could feel less overwhelming and more connected, hopeful, and human? The willGather Podcast: Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One invites you into conversations that empower older adults, family caregivers, and aging-services professionals with insight, dignity, and direction. Hosted by Nicole Will, family caregiver, advocate, and founder of willGather, this top-rated weekly podcast shares heartfelt stories, practical guidance, and meaningful conversations with leaders across dementia care, senior living, home care, and the broader care economy. Nicole blends lived experience with professional expertise, drawing from her background in Social Gerontology, her years as a senior living director, and the personal caregiving journey that inspired her work. Each episode offers a warm, grounded space to learn, feel seen, and discover resources that make the road ahead just a little easier. Whether you're caring for a loved one, supporting families through your profession, or simply curious about what it means to age well, you'll find connection, clarity, and hope here. Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals and do not provide medical advice. For medical questions, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Guest opinions are their own. Stay connected: Follow the show for new episodes each week. To explore guests, resources, and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

  1. 11/19/2025

    Inside U.S. News & World Report Nursing Home Ratings: What Families Need to Know with Ben Harder, Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News & World Report

    How do we measure quality care in a way that truly supports families? In this episode, Nicole sits down with Ben Harder, Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News & World Report, to explore the heart and science behind the 2026 Best Nursing Homes ratings. Together, they break down the updated methodology, what makes top-performing facilities stand out, and how families can use these insights to make confident, compassionate decisions, whether navigating short-term rehab or long-term care. This conversation brings clarity to a system that often feels overwhelming, offering a grounded look at how data, transparency, and thoughtful evaluation can guide better care for the people we love most. View US News & World Report Best Nursing Homes HERE.    Thank you to our Sponsor Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers.   We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com Instagram: @willgather

    50 min

  2. 11/12/2025

    When Systems Fail, Caregivers Lead with Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed, Founder, Career & Caregiving Collide™, Caregiver Advocate and Educator

    At 26, Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed became a full-time caregiver for her mom living with early-onset Alzheimer's. Now a leading advocate and educator, Jessica is reshaping how we understand the intersection of career and caregiving. In this conversation, she and host Nicole Will explore love, equity, and representation in care, what it means to be seen, to lead with compassion, and to build a world where every caregiver's story belongs.   To learn more, visit: https://www.jessicacguthrie.com/ To connect with Jessica, visit: @CareerCaregivingCollide   LinkedIn: Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed   Thank you to our Sponsor Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. Creating engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.   We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com Instagram: @willgather

    49 min

  3. 10/08/2025

    The Power of Early Diagnosis and Advocacy in Caregiving's Detective Work with Katie Brandt, Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations at the Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit & Global Advocate

    When her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration at just 29, Katie Brandt's life changed overnight. What began as confusion and heartbreak became a lifelong calling to transform how we see, support, and study dementia. Today, Katie is the Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations at the Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit, and the Founder & CEO of Katie Brandt Advocacy. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to become a "caregiver detective", the quiet observer, the record keeper, the advocate who pieces together the truth when something feels off. We explore how early and accurate diagnosis brings dignity, how research becomes more human when it includes caregiver voices, and why supporting caregivers isn't just compassionate, it's strategic. Katie shares the lessons she's learned through love, loss, and leadership, and how her belief that "love will end FTD" continues to guide her work and the families she serves.   To buys tickets and learn more about A Night with the Arts for FTD, an annual gala featuring the Sermos Memorial Art Show, benefitting the clinical research program in the MGH Frontotemporal Disorders Unit. Visit HERE. The MGH Frontotemporal Disorders Unit hosts From Care to Cure podcast. Listen HERE. Thank you to our Sponsor Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

    1h 2m

  4. 09/24/2025

    Comedy, Caregiving, and Courage with Kelsey Cook, Comedian, Caregiver & Advocate

    Comedian Kelsey Cook, known for her specials on Hulu and YouTube, opens up about her personal journey as a caregiver for her mom with Frontotemporal Dementia. In this heartfelt conversation, Kelsey shares the early signs she noticed, the trauma of crisis care, and the challenges of supporting her mom from a distance. She reflects on how humor has been a lifeline, how advocacy became part of her purpose, and why community connection matters now more than ever. Follow Kelsey and check out her work and podcast! https://www.kelseycook.com/   Thank you to our Sponsor Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers.   We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

    38 min

  5. 09/17/2025

    The Weight of Care & the Gift of Sleep with Andrea Suchin, Caregiver Advocate & Co-Founder of Wuggle

    When caregiving became her world overnight, Andrea Suchin's life changed forever. Her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia at 54, leaving Andrea to navigate full-time caregiving while raising four children. Sleepless nights and overwhelming stress became her reality. Out of that journey, Andrea and her sister created Wuggle™, a deep touch pressure sleep cap designed to bring calm and restorative rest. In this episode, Andrea shares her story of resilience, the creation of Wuggle™, and how better sleep can transform the caregiving journey.   To learn more about Wuggle here: http://www.wuggleme.com/ Thank you to our Sponsor Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers.   We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com Instagram: @willgather

    59 min

  6. 09/03/2025

    Why Aging Is Anything But Boring with Jean Ketcham, Founder of Aging But Dangerous & Author

    At 85, Jean Ketcham is just getting started. As the bold voice behind Aging But Dangerous, Jean reminds us that aging isn't about the body, it's about the soul. In this lively conversation, we talk about skydiving, style, friendship, caregiving, and yes, even vibrators. With her signature sass, fearless honesty, and contagious energy, Jean shows us how to embrace every year fully confident, empowered, and unstoppable. To connect with Jean and learn more visit https://www.agingbutdangerous.com/   Thank you to our Sponsor Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. Creating engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.   We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.willgatherpodcast.com/

    1h 2m

  7. 08/27/2025

    When FTD Changes Everything, Finding Strength, Purpose, and Community with Nanci Anderson & Lindsay Early, Co-Founders of Gary's FUB Team, AFTD Ambassadors, and Family Caregiver Advocates

    When Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) entered their lives, everything changed for Nanci Anderson and her daughters, Lindsay Early and Emily Anderson. In this conversation, they open their hearts about the long and confusing road to Gary's diagnosis, the challenges of caregiving, and the deep grief of watching someone you love slip away too soon. They also share the turning point, when they chose to honor Gary by creating Gary's FUB Team and raising awareness through advocacy and community. This is a story of heartbreak and resilience, of carrying love forward, and of finding purpose in the face of loss.   And here's where you can step in. Gary's FUB Team is hosting their annual fundraising event, September 22nd, to benefit AFTD. This is an evening filled with community, storytelling, and hope. Every ticket, every donation, every act of support moves us closer to better care, greater awareness, and the possibility of ending FTD. If you'd like to attend, contribute, or simply stand alongside families like Nanci and Lindsay's, you can visit garysfubteam.simpletix.com. Whether you show up in person or from afar, your support matters more than you know! Connect with Gary's FUB Team on Instagram and Facebook @garysfubteam To learn more about The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration visit https://www.theaftd.org/   We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com Instagram: @willgather Facebook: WillGather   Thank you our sponsor, Zinnia TV. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.

    55 min

  8. 05/28/2025

    The Art of Being Seen: Behind the Scenes of "Familiar Touch" with Sarah Friedland, Kathleen Chalfant, Shaun Rushforth & Jean Owen

    Most people think aging is about endings. Familiar Touch shows us it's about beginning again. In this episode, filmmaker Sarah Friedland, actress Kathleen Chalfant, executive director Shaun Rushforth, and resident Jean Owen of Villa Gardens, take us behind the scenes of this award-winning film that reimagines aging, dementia, and caregiving through dignity, creativity, and collaboration. A must-listen for family caregivers and senior living advocates. We go behind the scenes of Familiar Touch—filmed at Villa Gardens, a Front Porch Community. What does it mean to open your doors, your story, and your heart to a film crew? How do you protect dignity while embracing creative risk? And what happens when older adults shift from being passive recipients of care to powerful co-creators? We talk about everything: boundaries and trust, storytelling and memory, leadership in senior living, and how art can reimagine what aging and caregiving really look like—rooted in love, dignity, and the belief that every person deserves to be seen and why this film needs to be shared. Familiar Touch gives family caregivers a rare gift: the chance to see their own journey reflected with honesty and grace, reminding them that they are not alone. The small moments of transition. The weight of goodbyes. The quiet strength of starting over. Filmed on location at Villa Gardens in Pasadena with residents as cast and crew, Familiar Touch offers an authentic, collaborative portrayal of aging and caregiving. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, winning three major awards, and will be released in U.S. theaters on June 20, 2025 by Music Box Films. Learn more about the film at https://www.familiartouchfilm.com/   Thank you to our sponsors: HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE. Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.     We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

    56 min
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About

What if the journey of aging and caregiving could feel less overwhelming and more connected, hopeful, and human? The willGather Podcast: Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One invites you into conversations that empower older adults, family caregivers, and aging-services professionals with insight, dignity, and direction. Hosted by Nicole Will, family caregiver, advocate, and founder of willGather, this top-rated weekly podcast shares heartfelt stories, practical guidance, and meaningful conversations with leaders across dementia care, senior living, home care, and the broader care economy. Nicole blends lived experience with professional expertise, drawing from her background in Social Gerontology, her years as a senior living director, and the personal caregiving journey that inspired her work. Each episode offers a warm, grounded space to learn, feel seen, and discover resources that make the road ahead just a little easier. Whether you're caring for a loved one, supporting families through your profession, or simply curious about what it means to age well, you'll find connection, clarity, and hope here. Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals and do not provide medical advice. For medical questions, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Guest opinions are their own. Stay connected: Follow the show for new episodes each week. To explore guests, resources, and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

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