My father, Kevin Colgan, passed away on Christmas morning after a two-and-a-half-year battle with metastatic cancer. I had the honor and privilege to be his sole caregiver throughout that journey, including the last four months living at our home in La Jolla. It was an exhausting journey, but more profound than I could have imagined. It was about physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
I have a degree in comparative study of religion from Harvard which could barely hold up to the paces that my father put me through in our deep, penetrating conversations about the meaning of life. In the end, his closest friends said he was incredibly happy and at peace, despite the physical challenges that would take his life all too quickly.
We began our day with prayer and gospel music, Sanskrit chanting, and transcendental meditation. Our conversations veered from the deep and cosmic to the quotidian and mundane. Every moment was precious.
When societal bonds are fraying, shouldn’t we cleave closer and place our efforts where they are needed, even for just one more person? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. noted that, “At the heart of all that civilization has meant and developed is ‘community’ — the mutually cooperative and voluntary venture of man to assume a semblance of responsibility for his brother.”
It is never too late to care for our fellow human beings. In a time of great uncertainty and instability, my mission to care for my dad filled us with love, connection and a strong intergenerational bond that has been fading from society as we often lack the time or inclination to take family members in need into our homes.
But don’t take it from me: scientific research and literature support the benefits of in-home caregiving.
Some 63 million adults in the United States care for a spouse, parent or relative, and many caregivers step into the role guided by deep emotional connection and personal understanding. Established relationships allow caregivers to anticipate needs, communicate more openly, and provide care that feels less clinical and more human. In practice, this extends beyond managing daily responsibilities. Meals, hygiene, scheduling and coordination of care are all aspects of caregiving that amount to creating a sense of comfort, dignity and familiarity during a difficult time.
What stands out is how meaningful the role can be despite its challenges. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, “88% found the experience to be more rewarding than stressful,” reinforcing the idea that caregiving often brings a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment. Similarly, many caregivers experience “personal growth and increased meaning and purpose in life.”
The day-to-day demands — tracking medications, coordinating with healthcare providers, and assisting with physical tasks — require constant attention, while also strengthening cognitive engagement and physical resilience. More importantly, these responsibilities reinforce the value of consistent presence and emotional support.
Notably, the challenges and demands of caregiving tend to fall on caregivers who are lower-income adults. Another Pew survey conducted in 2025 shows that 39% of lower income adults care for an aging relative, as opposed to 23% of middle-income adults and only 16% of upper-income adults. Even though I am blessed with resources, it was deeply important for both me and my father that he be cared for in our own home.
Ultimately, caregiving is both demanding and deeply rewarding. There is not a day that passes without me reflecting on the time I spent caring for my father and all the deep, meaningful moments that we shared together. It was truly a privilege to walk him home, and our shared experience has allowed me to grow emotionally and spiritually, and augment a bond that became even stronger over each passing day.
God called my father home, and I am so moved and so grateful to have accompanied him on his journey.
Flavia Colgan is a former political commentator and news correspondent who works in the nonprofit sector and lives in Idyllwild and San Diego.
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