When Estrangement Meets Obligation: A Son’s Decision to Care for a Mother with Dementia

What happens when a son who's been estranged from his mother for years gets a call from her bank manager saying something's wrong? In this powerful first episode of our new four-part series examining how dementia reshapes relationships, Host Dawn Platt sits down with Jonathan, a married father of two who never imagined he'd become his mother's caregiver. When dementia struck during COVID, Jonathan made the life-altering decision to move her from Connecticut into his home in Florida, despite their complicated past.

This isn't a story about having all the answers. It's a raw, honest conversation about obligation, family values, and the emotional weight of doing what feels right when the past remains unresolved. Jonathan's journey, from frantic midnight door alarms to navigating an overwhelming healthcare system to ultimately making the decision for nursing home placement, will resonate with any son or daughter quietly carrying this responsibility, wondering what they would do in the same situation.