2020 Rose Parade Float Celebrates Caregivers as Everyday Heroes

More than 43 million Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures provide care to older loved ones. The SCAN Foundation—a Long Beach, Calif.-based nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of older adults and families—will spotlight caregivers as everyday heroes during America’s New Year Celebration at the 2020 Rose Parade.

The SCAN Foundation’s float, titled Hope’s Heroes: Honoring Caregivers of All Generations, will recognize caregivers and inspire conversations about what people want for their own aging experience.

“Caregiving provides essential support to those who are dearest in our lives, and it also helps us think about what we want for our own aging. These are crucial conversations that don’t happen often enough,” said Bruce Chernof, MD, president and CEO of The SCAN Foundation. “The Rose Parade is an opportunity to celebrate caregivers who are heroes to millions of older adults who wish to age well in the place they call home, while shining a light on aging as part of living that affects all families.”

The float is an imaginative take on “my home is my castle,” with caregivers serving as the protectors of one’s vision of home. Eight caregivers representing all generations have been selected to ride on the float in front of a live television audience of more than 37 million people across the globe.

Riders on the Hope’s Heroes float are:

• Aisha Adkins, Millennial, of Atlanta, Ga., a full-time caregiver to her mother and advocate for underserved caregivers.
• Jerry and Judy Crotsenberg, Baby Boomers, of Hillsboro, Wis., a retired couple who care for Judy’s mother on their family farm.
• Claudia Farfan, GenX, of Azusa, Calif., cares for her mother while juggling a full-time job with the City of Los Angeles.
• Laura Mosqueda, MD, Baby Boomer, of Pasadena, Calif., a geriatrician and dean of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine who cared for her mother.
• Emilia Mosqueda, Silent Generation, has lived in her East Los Angeles home for 63 years. As an only child, Emilia took care of both of her parents as they aged while raising her own family.
• Craig Terasawa, Millennial, of Temple City, Calif., runs his family’s pharmacy while being the primary caregiver to his father and sister.
• Cooper Westphal, GenZ, of Highland Park, Calif., who at just 5 years old started helping his older neighbor, Mary, who became a beloved friend of the family.

Anyone can share their caregiving story through The SCAN Foundation’s social media channels. Learn more and recognize a caregiver at HonoringAllCaregivers.org.

“The Rose Parade is a wonderful tradition that brings people together across generations to celebrate the New Year with the power of hope. It provides an opportunity to thank caregivers for their efforts and to inspire people to have important conversations about their own aging,” said Laura Farber, president of the 2020 Tournament of Roses.