We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madeline Bastida. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madeline below.

Alright, Madeline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Taking a risk, for me, meant choosing to step into the unknown for someone I love.

A few years ago, I made the decision to bring my dad from Puerto Rico to Washington after noticing changes in his memory that I couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t a clear or easy decision. I didn’t know the system, I didn’t understand Medicaid, and I had no roadmap for what caregiving would actually look like. I just knew that if I didn’t act, I would regret it.

The risk wasn’t only logistical, it was emotional. I was navigating doctors, paperwork, housing, and services while still working full-time and learning in real time what it meant to advocate for someone who couldn’t always advocate for himself. There were moments I felt overwhelmed, scared, and unsure if I was doing the right thing.

Another risk came later, when I decided to share our journey publicly. Talking openly about Alzheimer’s, especially within my culture, felt vulnerable. But I started creating videos that focused on joy, connection, dancing, laughter, and dignity, showing that even in hard seasons, there can still be light.

What I didn’t expect was how many people would reach out and say, “I feel less alone because of this.” That risk turned into purpose. It reshaped how I see advocacy, caregiving, and community. Today, I continue to speak up for my dad and for families navigating similar paths, reminding them that love, joy, and connection still matter, and that taking the risk to show up can change more than just your own life.

Madeline , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Madeline, but most people call me Maddy. I’m a daughter, caregiver, and advocate who’s navigating this journey one day at a time with my dad, who lives with Alzheimer’s.

I never planned to be in this space. It started when I noticed changes in my dad that didn’t feel right. What followed was a big, scary decision bringing him from Puerto Rico to Washington and learning how to navigate a system I knew nothing about. Medicaid, doctors, paperwork, memory care… it was overwhelming, and honestly, I learned most of it by doing and asking questions along the way.

At the same time, I was trying to show up as a daughter. Not just managing logistics, but protecting my dad’s dignity, his joy, and who he’s always been. That part matters to me just as much as the medical side.

As I went through this, I realized how lonely caregiving can feel, especially in the Latino community where these conversations aren’t always talked about openly. I decided to start sharing our journey not because I had it all figured out, but because I knew there had to be other families feeling the same way I did.

What I share focuses on real life. The hard moments, but also the joy. Dancing with my dad, laughing together, finding ways to stay connected, and reminding people that Alzheimer’s doesn’t take away love or culture. I try to show that even on tough days, there can still be light.

What I care most about is helping caregivers feel less alone and more supported. I’m always looking for solutions ways to navigate the system, ways to create connection, and ways to remind families that they’re doing the best they can. I don’t come from a clinical background. I come from lived experience, from love, and from showing up even when it’s hard.

If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that this journey isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up with compassion, finding moments of joy where you can, and remembering that none of us are doing this alone.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

What’s helped me build trust and a reputation in this space is showing up consistently and honestly, even when I didn’t have all the answers.

I didn’t come into this work with a plan or a title, I came into it as a daughter trying to figure things out for her dad. I shared what I was learning in real time: navigating Medicaid, asking questions at appointments, advocating when something didn’t feel right, and finding ways to keep my dad’s dignity and joy front and center. People connected with that because it was real.

I’ve always believed that it’s okay to not know everything, as long as you’re willing to ask questions and learn. I never assumed I didn’t belong in certain spaces. I showed up, spoke up, and trusted that my lived experience mattered. Over time, that honesty built trust.

I also focus on solutions and connection. I don’t just talk about how hard caregiving is, I share what helps. The small wins. The joy. The laughter. The reminders that even in the middle of something heavy, there can still be light. Especially in the Latino community, where these conversations are often kept quiet, being open has helped break stigma and start important dialogue.

My reputation has grown because people know I’m not here to sell a perfect story. I’m here to advocate, to learn alongside others, and to remind caregivers that they’re not alone. I lead with heart, culture, and lived experience and that’s what people trust.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot in my life came at a moment when I thought I was finally entering a new chapter.

I had just dropped my daughter off at college. I was becoming an empty nester in my 40s, and for the first time in a long time, I was thinking about myself about living my best life, slowing down, and enjoying this new season. And then everything changed.

I realized my dad in Puerto Rico wasn’t doing well. What started as concern quickly became a decision that couldn’t wait. I had to put everything on hold and figure out how to show up for him. I didn’t know what medical leave even looked like, if it was covered, or how I was going to travel back and forth. I didn’t know how to get him on a plane, how to bring him to Washington, or what life was going to look like once he got here. I just knew I couldn’t ignore it.

For almost two years, my life was on pause while I navigated doctors, paperwork, Medicaid, housing, and care, all while trying to keep my dad safe and grounded. There were moments of fear, exhaustion, and deep uncertainty. I questioned everything. But I kept going because that’s what love required in that moment.

What I never expected was how that pivot would change me. Somewhere in the middle of all the chaos, I discovered a passion I didn’t know I had advocating, educating, and helping other caregivers navigate this journey with joy and dignity. I learned how powerful connection can be, how culture matters, and how important it is to meet people where they are.

This experience gave me clarity and purpose. It showed me that even when life doesn’t go as planned, something meaningful can come from it. Today, everything I do is rooted in making sure caregivers don’t feel alone and reminding families that joy, dignity, and connection still belong in this journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mindfulmemorysolution.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy.maddy.alz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-bastida-54318432