08/18/2025
CAREGIVER SPOTLIGHT: Inspired by her personal experience with her father’s dementia, Debbie Gross is dedicated to helping people maintain independence and joy at home.
As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Debbie actively volunteers and partners with local organizations – including Dementia Friendly America, AARP, Benevilla, AllThrive 365, and the Alzheimer's Association locally – to promote education, compassion, and practical solutions for caregivers and aging adults.
“I was surprised by how much joy we found in my dad’s illness. He wasn’t lost or gone – he was just different. And I had to learn to meet him where he was, instead of mourning who he used to be. That shift opened the door to some really beautiful moments: like dancing in the living room with my sister and my dad, something he never would’ve done pre-dementia. Or watching him gently hold our kitten – this man who never liked pets – like it was the most precious thing in the world. Those were surprising gifts,” Debbie said.
“But there were hard surprises too. I gained 50 pounds while caregiving and working full-time. I was ashamed. I felt like I had lost myself. But over time, I realized the weight wasn’t failure – it was the visible weight of love, responsibility, and grief all carried at once. I had to learn that caregiving is about the person you love, yes—but it’s also a journey of learning who you are. What you're capable of. And how to forgive yourself for not being perfect. Now when I look at that video of us dancing, I don’t see the weight. I see joy. I see love. I see a dad and his daughters finding light in the dark.”
Debbie leads multiple Home Instead franchises in Arizona, blending innovative, high-tech solutions with a personal approach to caregiving – including work with Banner to provide respite services for unpaid caregivers.
