The Unseen Side of Caregiving: Advocacy After Loss with Dr. George Ackerman | EP042

Grief doesn’t end when caregiving does—it evolves into something else entirely. I sat down with Dr. George Ackerman, a former caregiver, police officer, and fierce Parkinson’s advocate, who turned personal heartbreak into global impact after losing his mom to the disease. George opens up about the raw truth of caregiving—especially as a son—and how he built TogetherForSharon.com as a lifeline for others navigating isolation, advocacy, and loss. His mission proves that love doesn’t stop when caregiving ends—it transforms into purpose, action, and connection that can light the way for others still in the fight.About Dr. George Ackerman:Dr. George Ackerman (Sharon’s son) is from Brooklyn, N.Y. Now residing in Florida, he works in the fields of law, police, and education. George lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease.George wanted to honor his mother and continue to help in the Parkinson’s awareness cause and did not know how to bring change. We started TogetherForSharon® as a family for the purpose of keeping my mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman’s, memory alive and to share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure.Today https://www.togetherforsharon.com/ reaches thousands of individuals across the country for PD Awareness. George currently interviews individuals throughout the Parkinson’s community including various foundations, caregivers, and Parkinson’s warriors to help share their stories and causes.I am on a mission, and nothing will ever stop me until there is a PD Cure.... nothing. Join me, share and we are a family in this mission toward a cure, always! https://www.togetherforsharon.com/about-us/#missionAuthor, A Son’s Journey from Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver to Advocate. To order your copy click  https://www.togetherforsharon.com/my-book-a-sons-journey/Also available in kindle/eBook and Hardcover at https://www.togetherforsharon.com/my-book/Author, Voices of Resilience: Conversations with Parkinson's Disease Warriors, Caregivers and Advocates. Book 1. https://www.togetherforsharon.com/my-book-voices-of-resilience/Author, Voices of Resilience: Conversations with Parkinson's Disease Warriors, Caregivers and Advocates. Book II. https://www.togetherforsharon.com/book-voices-of-resilience-ii/Social media links:All Social    https://linktr.ee/togetherforsharonWebsite       https://www.togetherforsharon.com/TogetherForSharon® Shop https://www.togetherforsharon.com/shop/Email          [email protected]     https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-ackerman-ph-d-esq-mba-00871a82/TikTok        https://www.tiktok.com/@togetherforsharon1Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/togetherforsharon112020Twitter/X    https://twitter.com/togetherforsha1Instagram    https://www.instagram.com/togetherforsharon/ & ThreadsThe Parkinson’s Connection YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheParkinsonsConnectionYouTube/playlistsPodcast Link-  The TogetherForSharon® Podcasthttps://www.togetherforsharon.com/podcast-interviews/Podcast: Q and A with Sharon’s Son, Georgehttps://www.togetherforsharon.com/qa-with-sharons-son-george/Interview link https://www.togetherforsharon.com/interview-index/  Tackling Tough Topics: BLOGhttps://www.togetherforsharon.com/tackling-tough-topics/YouTube     https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeBLOelhaLQNvgeNMzu-5gAbout Me:I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.Connect with Me:https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/Find my books hereThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.