Piecing Together Care: A Quilter’s Journey Supporting Her Veteran Husband with Dementia

Duet: Partners In Health & Aging Equips Family Caregivers of Veterans

“What I loved about it [Finding Meaning and Hope sessions] was the sharing of ideas. People were helping people by sharing what they had tried.”

— family caregiver of a veteran, Sandra Burson, shares why Duet’s Finding Meaning and Hope 10-week discussion series helped her navigate her husband’s vascular dementia diagnosis

Quilting is more than an art form; it is a heartfelt act of love. By stitching together various fragments and scraps of fabric, often of different textures, patterns, and colors, a quilter creates a cohesive design that brings warmth and comfort while honoring the past.

Who better to provide caregiving to someone living with vascular dementia than a quilter. Caregivers often piece together fragmented memories, moments of lucidity, and changing needs to create a daily routine that works for their loved one.

A Life Stitched Together Through History

Meet Sandra Burson. Sandra is a quilter and uses her skill to provide comfort for veterans and foster children alike with her quilts. “I love quilting period. It satisfies a need to give back.” She has been married to Navy veteran and former Support Photographer at the White House, Gregory (Greg) Burson, for 56 years. Sandra and Greg were married in Washington, D.C., during the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, stitching their lives together during one of the most tumultuous times in our nation’s history.

As a Navy Support Photographer, Greg worked in the Navy’s photo lab photographing various projects at the White House from resizing photographs for intelligence to more niche assignments for Lady Bird Johnson. “Lady Bird Johnson was the First Lady, the president’s wife, and she loved pictures, especially of flowers. She was planting flowers and trees all over Washington, DC, and that’s what he [Greg] would photograph—the plantings,” Sandra recalls.

Over their 56 years of marriage, Sandra and Greg built a life full of love and family, but his health struggles have tested their resilience. Greg was diagnosed with vascular dementia in March of 2024. Despite financial hardships and the emotional toll of caregiving, Sandra remains committed to supporting Greg, finding solace in her faith and the resources provided by organizations like Duet: Partners In Health & Aging. Introduced to Duet by a VA social worker, Sandra discovered practical advice, emotional support, and a community of caregivers who understand her journey.

Duet: A Lifeline for Caregivers of Veterans

The Duet services have been a lifeline for Sandra, offering workshops, shared experiences, and strategies to navigate the complexities of caregiving. Duet’s Finding Meaning & Hope signature 10-week video discussion series was designed specifically for family caregivers. The discussion series features videos based on the groundbreaking book, Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief by Pauline Boss, Ph.D., a leading expert on caregiver grief. Built on solid research and years of practical experience, it offers real help in dealing with the challenges, losses, and rewards of being a family caregiver of someone who is, or is becoming, psychologically absent.

Finding Meaning and Hope Through Community

Duet is grateful to help family caregivers of veterans who have served our country. Duet offers free-of-charge services as a valuable resource for caregivers to find one-on-one personalized emotional support and guidance to navigate the challenging journey of caregiving including diversified virtual and in-person family caregiver support groups throughout Maricopa County, educational webinars, information and referrals, as well as a peer support mentor/mentee service. In 2021, Duet expanded nationally by launching the Meaning and Hope Institute, empowering isolated and underserved dementia family caregivers with community support, vital resources, and a path to healing. Family caregivers need support, both emotionally and physically, to prevent burnout and maintain their own well-being while caring for someone who is physically present but psychologically absent.

Honoring Caregivers: The Strength Behind the Stitch

Sandra’s journey as a caregiver is a testament to the strength, love, and resilience it takes to care for a loved one with dementia. Just as she pieces together scraps of fabric to create beautiful quilts, Sandra weaves compassion, patience, and determination into her daily caregiving. Her story reminds us that caregivers like her are heroes who need and deserve support. With organizations like Duet providing guidance, resources, and community, caregivers can find hope and strength to navigate their challenging journeys while continuing to honor and care for the ones they love.

To learn more, please visit duetaz.org/family-caregivers or meaningandhope.org or contact Duet Family Caregiver Services at (602) 274-5022.