Caring for the people we love is one of the most meaningful things we do, but let’s be honest, it can also feel like an Olympic-level endurance sport. And for the millions of Americans in the sandwich generation, the load is even heavier. We’re raising kids, supporting aging parents, managing schedules, emotions, logistics, and somewhere in there we’re supposed to sleep and remember what self-care feels like.
This National Family Caregivers Month, Care.com is shining a light on this reality by partnering with someone who knows the struggle all too well: MTV’s The Hills star, author, and designer Whitney Port.
Why Whitney is raising her hand for caregivers
Whitney is no stranger to sharing the hard stuff. Now a mom of one, she’s been candid about her fertility challenges — having dealt with five miscarriages in the past — and other personal struggles over the years, but this is the first time she’s opening up about her mom’s health and a journey that has defined the past year for her family.
When her mother began struggling with memory issues, something that runs in the family, Whitney and her four siblings had to figure out what their mom needed and how to help her stay safely in the home she loved after losing their dad in 2013.
Like so many families, they weren’t sure where to start. They went through four caregivers. They felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, and constantly on edge — the hallmark feeling of being sandwiched between caring for kids and caring for parents. Weekly Friday calls about her mom’s care replaced casual chats. Siblings were rotating their mom between homes. She found herself dreading social time because every conversation circled back to logistics and stress.
And on top of that, Whitney also had to manage life as a working mom.
A moment of validation for caregivers everywhere
Care.com’s 2025 Cost of Care Report found that 90% of parents lose sleep over the stress of managing care for the whole household. That number hits differently when you think about the countless families who are silently juggling it all, believing they should be able to handle more than any one person realistically can.
Whitney and Care.com are joining forces to help break that silence.
Starting today and in the upcoming weeks, Whitney will collaborate with Care.com to share her personal experience with sandwich caregiving. She’s sharing her real, unfiltered story—including the guilt that creeps in at unexpected moments, numbness that follows you even through good news, and the mental load that’s always humming in the background. She wants people to know that you aren’t alone, that talking about what you’re going through matters, and that help exists.
“There’s this constant pull of wanting to show up for your kids and your mom at the same time, and you feel guilty no matter what you choose,” said Whitney. “When I finally talked about it out loud, I realized so many people are living the same thing. I want anyone going through this to know they’re not alone and they don’t have to figure it out by themselves.”
A partnership with purpose
This collaboration is about more than awareness. It’s about validation. It’s about naming the guilt, pressure, confusion, and exhaustion so many families carry in silence. It’s about letting people know that while you care for your children, your parents, your pets, your home and your life — you deserve support, too.
It’s also about sharing resources. As Whitney and her family navigated their care journey, Whitney began looking for extra guidance and perspective to help her navigate decisions. Care.com’s new Senior Care Advisor service — which pairs families with a master’s-level social worker to create a comprehensive care plan — became one of the resources she used along the way, offering information and clarity that helped her feel more grounded during an otherwise overwhelming period. Now, Whitney and Care.com are sharing an exclusive 15% off code, WHITNEY15 — the first time ever that Care.com is offering a discount on its new Senior Care Advisor service.
In the coming weeks, I will join Whitney on her podcast, With Whit. Together, we’ll answer your questions about caregiving, the sandwich generation, senior care options and the emotional realities that come with all of it. The content will be made available for free on all typical podcast streaming platforms.
Caregiving will always take a village, especially for those balancing care in every direction. Whitney’s willingness to share her story is an invitation for others to feel seen, supported and understood. And when you need guidance or a place to start, Care.com is here to help.
