Compassion in Action: Donna’s Path from Caregiver to Changemaker
Description
With a lifelong passion for nursing, Donna Steigleder’s journey began in her childhood and evolved into a career in healthcare, where she gained a wealth of experience across various medical settings. Her personal caregiving story started early, as she recognized and advocated for her daughter’s mental health needs at a time when such issues were often dismissed. Despite resistance from family and medical professionals, Donna’s persistence ensured her daughter received the care she needed, ultimately enabling her to thrive as an adult and nurse herself.
Donna’s caregiving responsibilities expanded over the years, encompassing her first husband, who struggled with denial about his MS diagnosis, and later her mother, who battled cancer. Balancing full-time work, Donna managed complex medical care at home, often feeling isolated and emotionally compartmentalized to cope with the relentless demands. Her experience as a director of employee relations gave her unique insight into the challenges working caregivers face, and she advocated for flexibility and support within her organization.
Recognizing the lack of accessible resources for caregivers, Donna created the “Healthcare to Home Care” website, a comprehensive hub for practical information and community connections. She also launched the “Compassion Mission” initiative, encouraging churches to support caregivers and those in need within their congregations. Donna’s story is not only one of personal sacrifice and strength but also of transforming her experiences into resources and advocacy to uplift others navigating the caregiving journey.
About Donna:
Donna Steigleder, a native of Henry, Virginia, began her career with a passion for writing and leadership, graduating in the top 1% of her high school class. After earning her nursing diploma, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her first job as a nurse clinician provided a broad range of experience, leading to her promotion to Director of Human Resources. After a divorce, she became a single mother and took on a second job to support her family. Following her marriage to Lynn Steigleder in 1997, she transitioned to working from home to care for him while continuing her HR duties until her retirement in 2018. Now retired, Donna has combined her personal caregiving experience with her professional healthcare background to create Healthcare to Homecare, a website offering resources for family caregivers. She is also an advocate for churches to provide support to the sick and needy in their communities.
Thank you to sponsor: CareScout
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
United States
