The Pat Summitt Foundation proposes Caring for the Caregiver, a half-day workshop series designed to “serve the servant,” the family caregivers who provide daily care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in East Tennessee. Caregivers are on the frontline, yet they are often overlooked, under-resourced, and physically and emotionally depleted. This initiative focuses on their needs while removing one of the greatest barriers to participation: respite care.

Each workshop will allow caregivers to bring their loved one, who will participate in a program that offers engagement, cognitive stimulation, and social connection. While their loved one is being cared for, caregivers can attend sessions that address the practical and emotional challenges they face. Subjects could include financial planning, nutrition, stress management, and navigating healthcare systems.

Through Phase I research, they will identify the opportunities that best suit caregivers. By equipping caregivers with knowledge, accessible resources, and intentional care for their own well-being, Caring for the Caregiver would strengthen families, improve health outcomes, and honor those who faithfully serve others every day.