In a sunlit room filled with the nostalgic charm of vintage decor, a group of friends gathered to practice their dance routines. Their dance session took place in the retro home of Angie Benedickt, where elements of the 70s style mingled with family memories captured in photographs and a collection of vinyl records.
Within these walls, Angie’s daughters, who have taken on the responsibility of caring for her as she battles dementia, rotate monthly to provide support. The home is filled with reminders of their childhood, from the Barbara Streisand- and Farrah Fawcett-inspired hairstyles in their family photos.
The dance group they belong to, “Dance With Me,” is an initiative by Dementia Friendly Washoe County in collaboration with the Ballroom of Reno. It offers a chance for caregivers and their loved ones to enjoy activities together, according to Cheryl Benedickt, Angie’s daughter.
“I love dancing with my mom. I kind of got that beat, but it’s not proper. My mom does great; it motivates her, it stimulates her,” Benedickt said.
After the passing of Angie’s husband six years ago, the family decided, “Mom’s not going in a home,” said Carol Earley, Angie’s eldest daughter. This commitment led Earley to retire early, impacting her financially, as she juggles her roles.
“There are days I just want to be her daughter and not a caregiver,” Earley expressed. “When you grow up, your parents are titans. This is a woman who has 60 years of work experience and raising kids in a household.”
Angie, who raised four children by the age of 25, worked various jobs, including picking onions, strawberries, cantaloupes, and cotton. Reflecting on the past, Earley noticed early signs of dementia when her mother stopped calling them.
Katherine Fulwider
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KUNR Public Radio
In Nevada, more than 600,000 individuals, nearly a quarter of the adult population, are involved in caregiving for family members, said Todd Story, AARP Nevada’s state director. This often involves caring for an aging parent, spouse, or child.
“Most families think of this as, this is just what you do, you take care of family,” Story noted.
This commitment translates to nearly half a billion unpaid hours of care each year. In the upcoming 2027 legislative session, Story mentioned that AARP Nevada will advocate for paid caregiving leave.
“As people age, they want to grow older in their own home, a space that they’re familiar with. How best to provide that care for them is family members coming in and out. It just makes sense for us to recognize that care is occurring and support those individuals because they’re actually doing a service for us as a society,” Story stated.
While Nevada is striving to address this challenge, other regions have implemented solutions. New Mexico has enshrined a constitutional right to early childhood education and became the first state to offer universal childcare. In Germany, employees can work part-time for up to two years and avail of an interest-free loan to compensate for lost wages while caring for a family member.
Family caregivers also ease the burden on the professional care workforce, explained Jennifer Ng’andu, managing director of strategic portfolios at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Despite the financial and emotional challenges, caregiving is deeply enriching.
“When we ask them about their experience, the first thing that comes up is the joy. Yes, people will ultimately say, ‘It’s the toughest thing that I’ve ever done,’ but they always come back to it’s the most fulfilling part of their lives,” Ng’andu shared.
Lucia Starbuck
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KUNR Public Radio
For Earley, the experience has been rewarding, allowing her to cherish moments with her 85-year-old mother.
“It’s funny, when I take her to a banjo lesson or something, and there’s these little kids, I’m like, ‘My mom takes me to my practice too,’ and their poor mom’s like, ‘Oh no, I’ve got 60 more years taking my kid to music class?’” Earley laughed.
The sisters, along with their mother and newfound friends, recently performed in a summer dance recital and are now eagerly preparing for the Christmas showcase.
This story was published with the assistance of the Journalism & Women Symposium Health Journalism Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund.
