Portraits in Caregiving

Welcome to the Self Guided Tour of

Collection of ten black-and-white portraits of diverse individuals, arranged in a grid with a central focus, against plain backgrounds.
Text overlay on a dark background that says 'Photo & Studio' with a faint feather design in the background.

“Portraits in Caregiving” is a photo-documentary series depicting varying emotions experienced by caregivers selflessly tending to their loved ones affected by chronic and disabling conditions including dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease. The series aims to honor the clients of Southern Caregiver Resource Center (SCRC) by capturing the essence of family and unconditional love through intimate and tender moments found in the everyday routine of caregiving.

Visit https://www.caregivercenter.org/ to learn more

INITIAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS CAREGIVING

Initial Attitudes

Joe & Mary, 2024

“My role is to give [him] as much dignity as possible for the rest of his life.” -Mary, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

2/22


An elderly man sitting in a chair holding a white rabbit, with a woman standing behind him holding a cat, inside a living room.
Two women sitting on a bed, laughing and holding hands, sharing a joyful moment.

Initial Attitudes

Marlo & Sharon, 2025

“...having my mom live with me, watching her fight off this disease…it’s an inspiration.” -Marlo, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

3/22


FINDING BALANCE

A woman standing and smiling while holding a vintage camera, talking to a man sitting on a low brick wall, outdoors near a building and trees, in black and white.

Finding Balance

Lenny & Margot, 2025

“I take a lot of pictures of Lenny…[to cope with stress] I close my eyes and think about [those] special moments.”  -Margot, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

4/22


A woman standing and talking to an elderly woman sitting on a wooden swing under a gazebo in a garden with trees and foliage.

Finding Balance

Rosa & Guadalupe, 2025

Rosa reading to her mother, Guadalupe, under the gazebo in their backyard.

Portraits in Caregiving

5/22


Three people stand on a park sidewalk, one elderly man with a cane and wide-brimmed hat, and two younger women, one wearing a hat and the other a baseball cap, looking at something on the ground, with a park bench nearby and trees in the background.

Finding Balance

Andres, Vicente, & Ignacia, 2025

“Mi experiencia es tener paciencia.” -Ignacia, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving 

6/22


Dissonance

Suzanne, 2025

Suzanne pensively reflects on her life as a caregiver.

Portraits in Caregiving

7/22


DISSONANCE

A woman standing in a kitchen with various household items on the counter, including framed photographs, food containers, and a sign, as seen through a mirror or opening.
Close-up black and white photograph of two hands gently holding each other, emphasizing age and tenderness.

Dissonance

Wendy & Iris, 2025

“I’m too hard on Wendy. I expect too much and I try and step back but my problem is I have no one to talk to but her.” -Iris, care receiver

Portraits in Caregiving

8/22


DAILY ROUTINES


An elderly woman in a wheelchair and another woman sitting beside her, both smiling and holding a stuffed animal.

Daily Routines

Esperanza & Ernestina, 2025

Ernestina gives her mother a sensory toy to help her stay calm in overstimulating environments.

Portraits in Caregiving

9/22


A black-and-white photo of a woman and a girl at a hospital bedside with a patient lying in bed with a nasal cannula. The woman is holding a young child, and a framed picture is on the wall behind them.

Daily Routines

Tina, Natay, True, & Valerie, 2025

“It’s a job…people don’t really understand what it takes.” -Tina, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

10/22


A woman with short dark hair is smiling while holding a phone to her ear, sitting next to another woman with her back to the camera. They are in a room with a window and blinds.

Daily Routines

Sharon & Marlo, 2025

“I got connected with Southern Caregiver Resource Center because I was looking for respite care. I needed a break because it’s physically demanding helping my mom and son at the same time. It’s just a lot.” -Marlo, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving 

11/22



A person holding a handwritten checklist on a piece of paper with a list of daily tasks, including herbal remedies, making the bed, putting away dishes, walking 10k steps, and reading 3 pages of a book or puzzle, in a cozy room.

Daily Routines

Lenny, 2025

Lenny, 61 years old,  was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2024. His family writes daily to-do lists to prompt him. 

Portraits in Caregiving 

12/22


A young woman with glasses and a crossbody bag standing behind an elderly man in a wheelchair, in an outdoor plaza with benches, large planters, and a building with a Spanish-style facade and towers in the background.

Daily Routines

Verónica, 2025

“It’s emotionally challenging to witness his decline, but caring for him is also one of the greatest blessings of my life…Every moment becomes a precious memory I hold close.” 

Portraits in Caregiving 

13/22


CATHARSIS –

THE MEANING OF CAREGIVING

An elderly woman with white hair sitting in a wheelchair, clasping her hands together, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression in a black and white photograph.

Catharsis

Esperanza, 2025

Esperanza primarily communicates through eye contact after a stroke. Recently, Esperanza celebrated her 100th birthday at her granddaughter’s home.

Portraits in Caregiving

14/22




A black and white photo of a cozy living room with a wall decorated with picture frames. In the background, two women are sitting at a dining table, one with gray hair in a wheelchair. The room has framed artwork on the walls, a sideboard with photos and decorations, and furniture including chairs and a cabinet.

Catharsis

Barbara & Suzanne, 2025

“For a long time I wondered what was the plan for my career…now I have no doubt that this is where I’m supposed to be.” -Suzanne, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

15/22


An elderly woman with a walker being assisted by a middle-aged woman, both in an indoor setting with blinds in the background, black and white photo.

Catharsis

Guadalupe & Rosa, 2025

“[La cosa que es más gratificante en cuidar a mi mama, son] los momentos cuando salimos las dos y con vivimos.” -Rosa, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving 16/22


LIFE AFTER

Life After

Barbara, 2025

“[My mom] tells me, ‘I hope you hold onto your memory forever.’” -Suzanne, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

17/22


A person holding a photo album on a table, with an elderly person's hands turning pages, surrounded by photographs, books, and decorative items.
A black and white photo shows a man and woman sitting on a park bench, viewed from the window of a train or similar vehicle, with trees and branches in the background. The woman wears a wide-brimmed hat, and the man wears a baseball cap, and both are engaged in conversation.


Life After

Margot & Lenny, 2025

“I promised him we are going to see the last sunset together…even if he doesn’t remember.” -Margot, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

18/22


A close-up black and white photo of a person's hands holding a small photograph of two women smiling.

Life After

Sharon, 2025

“I want to share what I’m going through because when you start caregiving no one tells you what to expect, you kind of have to figure it out on your own.” -Marlo, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving 19/22


An elderly man and woman sitting at a dining table, looking at photos or books, in a living room with a guitar leaning against the wall and a cat walking on the floor.

Life After

Mary & Joe, 2024

“I chose [caregiving] for these few years…I’m learning Mary is also a person that needs a life…when he’s gone, there should be a life I already blossomed for myself.” -Mary, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving

20/22


LOVE ENDURING

A young boy leaning over a hospital bed, holding the hand of an elderly man who is lying in bed with a breathing tube, in a hospital room.

Love Enduring

Tasman & Valerie, 2025

Tasman, 4 years old, gives his great grandmother a kiss during her final days in hospice care.

Portraits in Caregiving

21/22


Black and white photo of a table with a family in the background, with a framed photo of a smiling girl holding a cat in the foreground.

Love Enduring

Suzanne & Barbara, 2025

“There were some days I honestly didn’t know if it was going to be her last.” -Suzanne, caregiver

Portraits in Caregiving 

22/22