By Kipper Hendrick
For many, caregiving arrives suddenly — a parent falls, a dementia diagnosis, a hospital stay. For me, it unfolded gradually over more than two decades, beginning in Cleveland, extending through Chicago, and continuing today in Palm Beach. What began as stepping in to support my parents became a lifelong calling — one that reshaped my career, my perspective, and my purpose.
Cleveland, Chicago & Palm Beach
My journey started in Cleveland, where my parents lived for many years. As their needs grew, I managed everything from doctors’ appointments to hospital stays and home care. Later, when they moved to Chicago, I navigated the complexities of senior medical care in a bustling city. At The Clare, where they lived, I quickly learned how critical it is to establish strong medical networks — and to advocate fiercely for aging loved ones.
Each winter, when my parents traveled back and forth to Palm Beach, I had to rebuild care teams from scratch. That experience taught me a lasting lesson: older adults don’t just need one doctor — they need an integrated team, sometimes two, in two different states.
The Value of Specialized Care
One of the most pivotal decisions I made was finding a geriatric psychiatrist at Northwestern. Seniors face not only physical challenges but also anxiety, depression, and cognitive changes. Specialists trained in geriatric medicine helped untangle whether symptoms were caused by illness, medications, or mental health conditions. For my parent, and for many others, this was critical.
Careful medication management proved essential — evaluating combinations, reducing unnecessary prescriptions, and, most importantly, tapering or titrating down slowly and safely. That step alone made a profound difference in quality of life.
Creating Community
Caregiving also inspired me to create resources for others. At the Women’s Athletic Club in Chicago, I launched a Speaker Series on Women’s Health and Caring for Aging Parents, bringing in experts on legal needs, downsizing, finances, long-term care insurance, and end-of-life planning. I also served on Northwestern’s Geriatric Psychiatry Committee, helping shape broader conversations around elder care.
The Dementia Years
When my parents transitioned full-time to Palm Beach, I continued managing their care. My mother’s seven-year journey with dementia was both heartbreaking and grace-filled. Supporting her taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of meeting loved ones where they are — not where we wish they could be.
My biggest lesson was this: start with a baseline evaluation from a neurologist. At Cleveland Clinic Florida, we worked with an exceptional doctor who helped us understand what was truly happening with my mother’s brain and memory. And once dementia progresses, don’t waste energy trying to correct your loved one. Meet them where they are today. When you stop correcting, the relationship becomes lighter, gentler, and more peaceful for both of you.
After my mother passed, I continued caring for my father, who now lives with me and my husband, Bud. Every day brings a balance of his medical needs, emotional support, and the logistics of managing doctors, physical therapy, and caregivers.
From Personal Journey to Professional Mission
Over the years, friends often asked me to help coordinate care for their parents. One experience became a turning point: a family whose husband had suffered a stroke and was in a Palm Beach County hospital with no clear plan. Within hours — and more than ten phone calls — I had arranged his transfer to Cleveland Clinic, connected him with the right neurologist, and secured home physical therapy.
Later, when my own husband needed open-heart surgery, I researched the best surgeon in the country for mitral valve repair — the very doctor who pioneered the procedure — and flew my husband via air ambulance from Florida to Cleveland. Both experiences crystallized something for me: I could use my experience and network to help others on a broader scale.
That’s why I founded Lance Consulting — to guide families through the same complexities I had faced myself: choosing doctors, managing caregivers, navigating transitions, and knowing when specialized care such as palliative or hospice support is needed. Today, I work with families in Chicago and Florida, helping them make decisions with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
In Palm Beach, I founded the Young Friends of Cleveland Clinic Florida, raising awareness and support for the hospital’s excellence across South Florida. Our inaugural cocktail party was memorably hosted by the iconic Lilly Pulitzer at her Palm Beach home. Known for her joyful prints and indelible mark on Palm Beach style, Lilly’s gracious hospitality set the tone for an evening as colorful as her legacy. Cleveland Clinic Florida will soon break ground on a new $500 million hospital featuring 150 inpatient beds, an emergency department, a medical office building, and an ambulatory surgery center — a remarkable investment in the future of care.
The Takeaway
Caregiving is one of the hardest jobs there is because it combines emotional, physical, financial, and relational demands — often without breaks or recognition. You’re watching someone you love decline while managing logistics, finances, family dynamics, and your own exhaustion. And yet, despite the toll, most caregivers say they wouldn’t trade the experience. It is rooted in love, duty, and deep connection — proof that caregiving demands not just love, but extraordinary strength.
This is why I am so committed to aging well — learning from my parents’ journey and helping others do the same. With the right support, knowledge, and compassion, we can navigate the years ahead better than the generations before us.
10 Best Tips for Caring for Aging Parents
- Start the Conversation Early — Talk about wishes before a crisis.
- Prioritize Checkups — Annual screenings and routine visits are essential.
- Find Geriatric Experts — They spot complexities general doctors may miss.
- Simplify Medications — Use pill organizers or pharmacy pre-sort services.
- Make the Home Safe — Remove throw rugs, add grab bars, improve lighting.
- Encourage Movement & Nutrition — Light exercise and balanced diet support strength.
- Support Emotional Health — Loneliness accelerates decline; social ties are medicine.
- Get Legal & Financial Affairs in Order — Wills, POAs, and advance directives updated.
- Respect Independence — Involve parents in decisions to preserve dignity.
- Care for the Caregiver Too — Burnout is real; accept help and protect your own health.
