America's caregiving crisis may emerge in a hospital, but it builds inside homes, where sons, daughters, spouses, relatives, and friends step into roles they never expected to fill. They become advocates, companions, and decision-makers, often with little preparation and even less support. Quinard McDonald, founder of Someone To Lean On (SOLO), believes the greatest challenge many caregivers face has little to do with the work and more to do with the isolation that comes with it.
After serving 21 years in the military and another 15 years in government service, McDonald thought he understood sacrifice. Life, however, presented him with a different calling when his mother suffered a serious fall. With family members unable to help, he made a decision that changed the trajectory of his life. He sold his belongings, left his career, and became his mother's full-time caregiver.
