HUGS Brings Peer Support to Forefront Living, with a Personal Touch from Leeza Gibbons

On October 16, Forefront Living welcomed a new partnership with Leeza’s Care Connection (LCC), bringing the H.U.G.S. (Helping U Grow Stronger) peer-to-peer support program to its communities. In a series of presentations at Presbyterian Village North (PVN), The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) and to various community partners, the renowned TV personality and caregiver advocate, Leeza Gibbons, personally introduced the program, leaving a lasting impact on residents and teammates alike.

The HUGS program is a lifeline for family caregivers, offering them much-needed support through volunteers known as HUGS Ambassadors—individuals who have walked the same caregiving path and completed a specialized training program. These ambassadors are available to offer virtual or in-person encouragement, advice and empathy. Gibbons’ presence at Forefront Living underscored the significance of this initiative, especially in communities like PVN and OAW, where caregiving is often a part of residents’ and staff members’ lives.

For Gibbons, the partnership is deeply personal. After caring for her mother and grandmother, both of whom faced the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, she founded LCC with a mission to ensure that caregivers are not forgotten as they care for their loved ones. The HUGS program embodies that mission, offering peer support, caregiver groups and resources to those who may feel overwhelmed, isolated or afraid.

In her presentations, Gibbons emphasized the importance of support networks. “No one should have to walk the caregiving journey alone,” she told attendees. Her message was especially resonant in the senior communities where so many caregivers balance the emotional and physical toll of looking after loved ones.

Along with HUGS, LCC provides a robust range of services to empower caregivers, including educational workshops, support groups and wellness activities. From stress management through creative and social activities to free webinars that equip caregivers with practical tools, LCC has created a comprehensive network to help them thrive.

The Forefront Living community’s embrace of the HUGS program not only reflects their commitment to empowering caregivers but also reinforces their vision of creating innovative partnerships that enrich lives and support individual growth. The collaboration with LCC represents a meaningful step forward in fulfilling that mission. Through HUGS, caregivers in the Forefront Living community now have a resource that will uplift, encourage and strengthen them in ways they may never have expected.

Learn more about HUGS and LCC here.