Nicole Petrie, an FTD care partner and AFTD volunteer, became a caregiver advocate on social media by accident. While filming a video for TIK Tok, Nicole’s mom Cheryl, who is living with FTD, entered the frame, providing an opportunity for Nicole to share more information about her mom’s diagnosis with her followers.

“Explaining that my mom had FTD sparked a conversation I didn’t expect,” said Nicole. “Some people were genuinely curious about her experience and others commented relating to our journey. The response encouraged me to continue sharing because of how much it resonated.”

Since this first post in 2020, Nicole has captured candid moments, held Q&A sessions, and shared strategies for navigating the caregiver role via her TikTok account. “I’ve been able to connect with younger people whose parents are living with FTD – hearing how much these videos make a difference to them keeps me going.”

Today, as an AFTD Brand Ambassador, Nicole is expanding on her message of raising FTD awareness to include the importance of an accurate and timely diagnosis and sharing resources and support options available for families.

Nicole hopes her videos will continue to reach people and encourage more conversations about FTD and other forms of dementia to improve the quality of life for all who are affected.

“Dementia can be so isolating, and caregivers are often overlooked, but I want to encourage people to talk about their experience and continue living their life with joy, excitement, and happiness.”