Founder shares lessons from caring for Alzheimer-stricken father and launching eldercare startup

When Kathleen Korpela’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his early 70s, she was in her mid-30s, caring for a toddler and a baby while re-entering the workforce. Over eight years, she and her brother navigated multiple adult family homes before finding a specialized dementia group home, learning that early dialogue about health, finances and living arrangements can ease later decisions. The experience exposed her to a lack of support for adult children acting as caregivers, prompting her to found Living Goldenwell in 2025 and create the Caregiving from the Middle program to offer education and guidance.

Korpela stresses the need for thorough financial inventories, advocacy skills, and self-care to avoid losing one’s identity. She also emphasizes involving grandchildren in visits to maintain family bonds and normalizing eldercare discussions at work. Ultimately, her story illustrates both personal challenges and a broader call for systemic resources for middle-generation caregivers.