Finding Light in the Hardest Moments of Caregiving with Carlos Olivas, Advocate & Caregiver
Caregiving is one of the most profound acts of love—but it can also feel isolating, overwhelming, and uncharted. My guest today is Carlos L. Olivas III, an advocate for Alzheimer’s caregivers and mental health awareness. His journey is deeply personal—rooted in the love and care he provides for his father, who is living with Alzheimer’s.
In this episode, we talk about the meaningful layers of caregiving—the mental toll, the lessons in resilience, and the unexpected ways it changes us. We talk about what it means to find strength in community, navigate this journey as a male caregiver, and how art has given both him and his father a way to process, express, and hold onto something real.
Carlos has transformed his experience into a mission, serving on California’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, working with organizations like Caring Across Generations and the Alzheimer’s Association, and using art as a way to foster connection and healing. As a docent at Artbeat Gallery in Sacramento, he proudly shares his father’s artwork—a reflection of creativity that endures, even as memory fades. Carlos is also an esteemed member of We Are HFC’s Care Squad, bringing raw honesty, empowerment, and deep empathy to the caregiving community.
Carlos has transformed his experience into a mission, serving on California’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, working with organizations like Caring Across Generations and the Alzheimer’s Association, and using art as a way to foster connection and healing. As a docent at Artbeat Gallery in Sacramento, he proudly shares his father’s artwork. Carlos is also an esteemed member of We Are HFC’s Care Squad, bringing raw honesty, empowerment, and deep empathy to the caregiving community.
Carlos’s story is being shared far and wide—he is featured in Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s, premiering on PBS Independent Lens on May 5, offering an intimate look at the emotional and physical toll of caregiving while highlighting the resilience and love that define this experience. He is also featured in Well Beings Caregiving, a powerful series produced by Bradley Cooper, that brings attention to the lived realities of caregivers.
Through storytelling, advocacy, and art, Carlos is making sure that caregivers everywhere feel seen, heard, and supported.
Learn more about Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer's HERE:
Learn more about the film Caregiving HERE:
Carlo’s Story HERE:
Listen to our episode HERE.
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About Carlos L. Olivas III
Carlos L. Olivas III, a compassionate advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers and mental health awareness, brings his personal journey and heartfelt empathy to the forefront of his work. As a caregiver for his father courageously navigating life with Alzheimer's, Carlos shares touching stories and profound insights, resonating with audiences worldwide. Handpicked to serve on the California Health and Human Services Agency Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, Carlos collaborates with esteemed organizations such as Caring Across Generations, the Alzheimer's Association, and Into the Dark Blue men's well-being group. Additionally, Carlos serves as a docent at Artbeat Gallery in Downtown Sacramento, where he proudly represents his dad's artwork on the walls. Carlos is an esteemed member of We are HFC's Care Squad. Through his engaging speaking engagements, he ignites inspiration and empowers others, shining a light on the universal themes of love and resilience
Connect with Carlos via social media, interviews, podcasts and resources:
Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer's Sacramento screening March 8
Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer's PBS air date May 5
LISTEN NOW: Apple Podcasts, Spotify & on your favorite podcast platform.
We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.
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Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.
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