Celebrity Caregiving in the Spotlight

When Famous People Care

Author

ieadvocates
April 23, 2026

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieAdvocates (invisible employee advocates)

Thank you for being here!

When we think of celebrities, we often picture red carpets, award shows, and lives lived in the spotlight. But behind the fame, many public figures have faced one of life’s most profound challenges – caregiving. From supporting aging parents to advocating for spouses and loved ones with chronic conditions, these individuals navigate the same physical, emotional, and logistical challenges as caregivers everywhere. 

In this newsletter, we highlight the care journeys of some of these famous individuals. We hope that as you read about their work and caregiver experiences, you will be empowered by both the strength and vulnerability they share. Their stories not only bring visibility to the realities of caregiving but help break down stigma, spark conversation, and inspire deeper empathy for the 63 million working caregivers who walk this path every day. Caregiving connects us all.

Table of Contents

In the news:

Latest research, events, and articles that are making an impact for working caregivers and their employers.

Emma Heming Discusses Mental Health as Bruce Willis' Caregiver: 'I Prioritize My Brain Health'

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Following Willis' diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia in early 2023, Heming has been open about their journey as a family as they've experienced such a life-changing event. In a new interview with People published on Tuesday (Feb. 17), Heming reflected on how she's caring for both her husband and herself. "

I think that 40% of caregivers aren't making their own medical appointments and caregivers can sometimes pass before their loved ones," Heming told the outlet.

Laura Dern on Her Most Challenging Role: Caregiver for Her Dying Mother

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My mom really taught me to rely on community so that I could have space for self-care. I used to feel guilty about leaving her at hard moments, and she would say, "No, I'm being selfish. If you go walk the dog, you come back happier, and you're more patient with me." It's really hard to spend days sleeping in a hospital with the person you love. Take a break, get some fresh air, and have somebody else step in. In my case — as a single parent — my kids helped take care of their grandmother. 

~Laura Dern

Did you know? (Read our blog):

Our blog brings you knowledge, personal and researched, to raise your awareness and empathy about working caregivers and caregiving.

When Celebrities Care: Shining the Spotlight On The Realities of Caregiving by Selma Archer

Joan Lunden and her mother; Emma Hemming Willis and Bruce Willis; Lauren Miller and Seth Rogan

When well-known people speak openly about caregiving, they do more than tell personal stories. They encourage momentum. They invite employers to rethink workplace policies, inspire policymakers to act, and remind caregivers everywhere that they are not alone. Although frequently viewed as a private journey, caregiving spans every walk of life, including some of the most recognizable faces in entertainment, media, and business. Behind the headlines and public personas, many celebrities have navigated the complexities of loved ones facing illness, disability, or aging. Below, we touch on the care journeys of some of these individuals.

People and Companies In the spotlight:

Our podcast puts a spotlight on guests who are making a significant difference in the working caregiver space.

Episode 38: Bonnie Wattles of Hilarity for Charity: What Caregivers Are Still Missing

We sit down with Bonnie Wattles to unpack what it really looks like to support working caregivers—without the fluff and without the one-size-fits-all mindset. From the origin story behind Hilarity for Charity to the growing (and often invisible) population of caregivers in the workforce, we explore why this conversation matters now more than ever.

We also dig into the real-life challenges caregivers face daily—balancing work, family, and emotional stress—and the practical tools, community support, and mindset shifts that can make a meaningful difference. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or unsure where to start, this conversation is packed with insights that will meet you exactly where you are.

Bonnie Wattles employs an extensive background in business and nonprofit leadership to lead Hilarity for Charity (HFC) into its next phase of growth providing care and support for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and activating the next generation of Alzheimer’s advocates. Under her visionary leadership, the organization has ascended to the forefront of the industry, driving innovation in brain health education and disease prevention for young people. Bonnie has overseen the launch of HFCUniverse, an all-encompassing digital platform recognized by Fast Company in 2022 as a world-changing idea. HFC has become the largest provider of free in-home respite care nationwide and offers a robust selection of virtual, professionally-led support groups and caregiver wellness programming to sustain and support families during their Alzheimer’s journey. Over a million people engage annually with HFC’s online community of Alzheimer’s family members, caregivers, advocates, and others touched by the disease. Bonnie holds a BA from Hamilton College and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She resides in Connecticut with her family and their English Bulldog, Wilma. Bonnie’s work to help families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease is in memory of her grandmother, Sadie, who lived with dementia.

Actual Working Caregivers Share Their Stories

Meet Jackee de Lagarde, a real working caregiver:

Jackee de Lagarde

“I did share my caregiving challenges with certain coworkers because I thought it was
important for them to have an awareness of certain limitations and the need for flexibility. Whether that's because one of my caregivers called in sick, or they're on vacation, or a doctor's appointment has come up. As I mentioned, both of my bosses, both at Kenneth Cole and at Kate Spade, were very sympathetic and allowed me that time and that flexibility to tend to my parents. Now, on the flip side of that, I look back, and I think that maybe that knowledge prohibited me from certain opportunities based on assumptions around my availability. Whether that's to take on new responsibilities or to go on a business trip. So, in hindsight, I've been thinking about this a lot recently. Maybe I could have been less transparent with everything happening at home.”

~Jackee de Lagarge

Jackee de Lagarde is the host and creator of the podcast, Who Cares About Me?, a podcast series spotlighting the lived experiences of parental caregivers, those navigating the emotional, practical, and often invisible work of caring for aging parents and grandparents. Jackee is a wife, mother, executive in the fashion industry, and primary caregiver to her 82-year-old mother, who is living with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare degenerative neurological disease. Like many caregivers, she didn’t plan for this role, it found her. Outside of the podcast, Jackee is a global licensing and branding executive with more than 20 years of experience building and scaling licensing businesses for leading fashion and lifestyle brands such as Kate Spade New York, French Connection, Dockers, Kenneth Cole, and Jack Spade. Today, she advises companies on licensing, partnerships, strategy, and brand development through her consulting work. She was named one of the “Top 100 Notable Black Leaders” by Crain's New York Business and serves on the Board of the Fashion Institute of Technology Foundation. Learn more about Jackee here:  www.whocaresaboutmepodcast.com 

“I will say one of the things that I wish I had done earlier in my career, in my caregiving
journey, was getting the respite care. And learning how to delegate, because I was not listening to my body, and I tried to do and be this superhuman in the beginning, and doing tasks I had no business doing. And my body, unfortunately, has suffered because of that. I have terrible back issues that I've been trying to slowly fix and slow the progression of. But it's probably too late at this point. There are other things that I ignore: the exhaustion, the fatigue, the stress. I wish I'd gotten in front of that earlier. So, you know, anyone that's listening who’s in this, the very beginnings of it, get the resources early. Figure out what you can and can't do. Don't try and be Wonder
Woman, Superman… pay attention to your body, listen. It's telling you no..”

~Jackee de Lagarde

Recommended media content:

We explore and share with you diverse media illuminating the dynamics and narratives within the care economy - from insightful podcasts to thought-provoking books and engaging videos.

PODCASTS

Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast 100th episode has guest Leeza Gibbons from Entertainment Tonight, her talk show Leeza, Dancing With the Stars, co-host of the Rose Parade and as the winner of Celebrity Apprentice. You may not know that Leeza is a family caregiver. She cared for her mom and her grandma who had Alzheimer’s and is caring for her dad who has heart disease. Leeza’s passion is pouring her resources and energy into her non-profit, Leeza’s Care Connection, which helps family caregivers. In this episode we talk about boundaries, optimism, self-care, big dreams and the importance of sharing your story.

BOOKS

VIDEOS:

Bradley Cooper on Caregiving for his Father. Bradley Cooper opens up about his care journey with his father and celebrates the people that give it all to care for the people we love.

"Caregiving", a documentary created with executive producer Bradley Cooper highlighting the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America, will premiere Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS and on the PBS YouTube Channel. An early streaming premiere will be on wellbeings.org, PBS.org and on the PBS App begins Tuesday, May 27, 2025. For more information about Caregiving, visit wellbeings.org/caregiving

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank V who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review!

A Refreshing Non-BS Take On Caregiving and Work

The authors did a terrific job of capturing the overwhelming depth of what it means to be a working caregiver, especially the mental toll it takes. Too often, talk about caregiving centers almost exclusively around the difficulties of time management for employees. That's important, of course, but what's great about this book is that it provides a hyper-accurate view of the emotional aspects of caregiving and how they impact work, and vice versa. As a caregiver, I found the book extremely relatable. I saw myself in the many stories. Likewise, as someone who's spent my career in HR and talent, I also appreciated how the authors wove in stats and information about work and caregiving, as well as offered paths forward for organizations. Mostly, I found it refreshing that the book did NOT focus on those stats and information. Rather, by emphasizing the human aspect of the problem, the authors did a great service toward (hopefully) improving the state of caregiving and work.

Order your copy of Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees book here. If you want to order a quantity of books for your leadership team and employees, contact us directly about discount pricing.

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