Gerontologist Sally Duplantier joins Senior Anchor Bri Allison from the National Library for Patient Rights & Advocacy for a powerful discussion about caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Sally shares key insights about the barriers and facilitators of health and wellbeing in family caregivers based on a study Sally recently published in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. In this interview, Sally discusses why these family caregivers are more likely to develop chronic diseases, experience depression and anxiety, and realize a shorter lifespan than non-caregivers due to their burden of responsibility. Sally describes how this responsibility is like “a heavy cloak that cannot be removed” even when other caregiving options are available. To help alleviate caregiver burden, Sally emphasizes that our healthcare system needs to start seeing family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s as “additional patients,” not “invisible patients” with unique physical and emotional needs of their own.

Sally is the founder of Zing, and her mission is to help older adults live their best life longer by taking charge of their health. To support this mission of healthy aging, Zing provides education and coaching on the key lifestyle choices that reduce the risk of chronic disease: nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and social engagement.

In addition to her work at Zing, Sally partners with non-profits to improve health outcomes for underserved and under-represented populations. Sally is currently leading an initiative for the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Bay Area to address the growing concern about food security for families with critically ill children.

Sally believes that age does not define us—we define how we age. After earning a graduate degree 45 years after her bachelor’s degree, Sally knows that we are #nevertooold to learn, grow, and make a difference.