Marg Helgenberger Wants to Bring ‘Needed Relief’ to the Nation’s Family Caregivers

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Marg Helgenberger’s personal experience with caregiving came early but was clearly impactful.

The CSI: Las Vegas actress was in college at Northwestern when her mom, Kay, was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed a double mastectomy. Helgenberger spent her summer months away from

school driving her mom to and from doctor appointments.

Soon after, her father, Hugh, a federal meat inspector who had opened his own custom meat plant in North Bend, Nebraska, started having a series of health issues. At first the doctors

chalked up the nerve problems he was experiencing in his shoulder to the physical nature of his work. But then he received the official diagnosis: multiple sclerosis.

“He was 46 or so when he was diagnosed.” Helgenberger recalls. “I don’t think he was diagnosed with progressive [MS] until they realized, Oh, he’s one of them. That’s not going into

remission.”

As a member of The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group consisting of actors, directors, producers and writers, Helgenberger took part in the June 26 lobby day on Capitol Hill —

sharing personal stories to influence congressional action on behalf of the nation’s 48 million unpaid family caregivers. The Creative Coalition has teamed up with AARP to help raise

visibility and build federal support for bills including the Credit for Caring Act, which could give eligible family caregivers up to $5,000 in tax credit. “This is a way for me to honor

both of my parents … and bring some needed relief to people — millions of people — throughout the country,” she says.