The Caregiver’s Advocate, Vol. 2

Missy Krugh shares a powerful, deeply personal story of watching her grandmother’s cognitive decline with alzheimer’s, as a teenager, and how that experience sparked a calling to protect the dignity of aging loved ones. Through memory, song, and tender caregiving moments, Missy discovered the sacred importance of connection, even in the face of dementia. Her experience in a sterile hospital unit lacking warmth and options shaped her mission to help families avoid last-minute, fear-based decisions. Years later, she founded Illuminate Senior Services, driven by faith, love, and a calling to be the trusted guide she and her family once needed. Her grandmother’s quiet squeeze of the hand and whispered wisdom planted the seeds that became Missy’s life’s work.

Missy’s seven-step guide, ranging from starting gentle conversations to
understanding legal documents and care costs – empowers families to approach decisions with clarity, dignity, and grace. She emphasizes the importance of local Senior Advisors, touring early, and building a “crisis folder” to stay ahead of urgent care needs. Most of all, she reminds readers that grace, not guilt, should lead these decisions. With love as the foundation and the right preparation, families can honor their loved ones by providing them with safety, choice, and community before the storm arrives.