Donna Thomson

This Caregiving.com Caring Conversations interview features Donna Thomson in conversation with host Brenda Blais Nesbitt, discussing the complexities of caring for adult children. It addresses a caregiving situation that is common yet rarely spotlighted: parents who continue caring for their children well into adulthood.

The interview explores the distinct challenges of caring for an adult child — whether due to disability, chronic illness, or complex needs — including the evolving relationship, questions of autonomy and decision-making, long-term planning for a child who may outlive their parents, and the emotional weight of lifelong caregiving. Donna, a recognized voice in the caregiving community and author on the subject, brings depth and lived experience to the conversation, offering both understanding and practical wisdom for parents in this situation.

This resource matters because caring for an adult child raises issues that differ from both child-rearing and elder care — particularly around the child’s autonomy, the parent’s aging, and planning for the future — yet these families often lack tailored support. Hearing from an experienced, articulate caregiver-advocate like Donna provides guidance and solidarity. As part of Caregiving.com’s Champions Corner, her interview elevates an under-discussed caregiving experience. For parents of adult children with ongoing needs, this conversation offers valuable perspective. It is freely available on Caregiving.com.