- The Backstory -

WHEN CAREGIVING BECAME MY LIFE

Caregiving changes you. I know, because it changed me.

My name is Karen Leeman, founder of Caregiver 2 Caregiver, and several years ago I joined the ranks of millions who care for a loved one. It’s a role full of joy, heartbreak, and relentless responsibility. Balancing marriage, career, and family while caregiving left me depleted—and eventually facing surgery and burnout. Oddly, what hit hardest was something I couldn’t name at first: a quiet, aching sense of emptiness.

And then, the truth landed. I didn’t love myself. Not fully.

That moment changed everything.

FROM SKINCARE TO SOUL CARE

What started as a small act of self-kindness—taking a few minutes to nourish my skin—became the spark behind Resonate Skincare. I created the line as a gift for caregivers like me, as a simple reminder to exercise self-love and compassion amidst the chaos.

But something bigger was unfolding.

The more I shared my story, the more I heard yours. I realized this wasn’t just about skincare. This was about survival. About identity. About the emotional cost of caregiving and the invisible labor so many of us carry.

So Caregiver2Caregiver was born. Not as a product, but as a platform—a soft landing place for those who give so much, and rarely receive.

MORE THAN A LABOR OF LOVE

Caregiving is quiet work. It happens behind closed doors, without fanfare, titles, or paychecks. And yet, the impact caregivers have on our society is staggering.

In the United States alone, more than 65 million adults are informal, unpaid caregivers—nearly one in three adults. These caregivers support aging parents, disabled spouses, chronically ill children, or friends navigating major health challenges. Despite receiving little or no formal training, many are expected to perform complex tasks like medication management, injections, and wound care. If their work were given a dollar value, it would top $600 billion annually—yet most do it for love, not pay.

But this labor of love takes a toll.

Caregivers report significantly worse mental and emotional health than their non-caregiving peers. In fact, only 23% of informal caregivers rate their mental health as “good,” while nearly half experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, or burnout. Forty-one percent report overall low well-being—32% higher than the general population3. These aren't just numbers. They're lives quietly unraveling from the weight of invisible work.

The burden is especially heavy for women, who make up over 60% of all informal caregivers. Many are part of the so-called “sandwich generation,” simultaneously caring for children and aging parents while working full-time. The result? Juggling caregiving with professional life often leads to unspoken consequences—73% of caregivers are employed, yet fewer than half have shared their caregiving responsibilities with their employer. One in five has taken a leave of absence or demotion to make it all work. And caregivers are twice as likely to require disability-related leave themselves.

The physical toll is real, too. Stress-related illness, sleep deprivation, and weakened immunity are common side effects of long-term caregiving. Even among caregivers who feel emotionally fulfilled, their bodies often carry the quiet cost.

Still, amidst the chaos, many caregivers find a deep sense of meaning. In a 2023 AARP survey, 80% of informal caregivers said the experience gave their life a stronger sense of purpose. And research shows that many also experience personal growth, gratitude, and a feeling of giving back to someone who once cared for them.

Caregiving is a paradox—exhausting and beautiful, isolating and connective. It demands more than most people realize. And it deserves more support than most caregivers receive.

You don’t have to do it alone. That’s why Caregiver2Caregiver exists.

YOU'RE NOT IN THIS ALONE

If you’ve ever felt like you're drowning in duties, lost in the demands of caregiving, or unsure who you are outside of your role—this space is for you.

We're here to empower informal caregivers to navigate the emotional and mental weight of caregiving with strength, simplicity, and self-compassion. We explore transformative tools like self-talk, boundary setting, emotional processing, and small, nourishing rituals.

Whether you’re caring for a child, a parent, a partner, or a friend—you matter. You are significant. You are valuable.

Now, we invite you to explore. Not with urgency, but with curiosity. This isn’t a place full of answers—it’s a place full of support.