Andrea Schell is a Caregiver for her mother (who has dementia) and for her father (who has physical disabilities). She first learned about No Barriers from a friend who worked on Soundscape, a documentary featuring Erik Weihenmayer, No Barriers Co-Founder.

When asked why she decided to get involved, Andrea responded, “As soon as I started exploring the website, I felt an immediate connection. It was like, ‘These people care, and they really get it.’

I remember watching a video about a Caregiver Retreat, and I couldn’t help but cry because, for the first time, I felt seen and understood.

Caregiving can be so isolating—you feel trapped, like there’s no way out. But watching that video gave me a sense of hope, like maybe there is another way forward. So I applied immediately.”

Andrea attended a No Barriers Caregiver Retreat in the summer of 2023.

“Attending the retreat last year was a turning point for me. I had applied and gotten into New York University, without knowing if I would be able to go or make it work at all. The retreat gave me the clarity and confidence to decide that I had to go to NYU. I realized that not going was not an option. No Barriers made me see that I absolutely needed to chase my own dreams and passions.”

Andrea began working on her second Master Degree’s at NYU in 2023, where her research focus is Family Dementia Caregiving. She returned to the No Barriers Mountain Campus this summer, joining the No Barriers team as an intern, putting her research into practice.

Andrea worked diligently to create programming which tapped into a caregiver’s ability to be creative, cared for, and seen outside of their “caregiver” identity. She was able to facilitate that programming during the August Caregiver Retreat.

“Andrea was an invaluable member to support and guide the learning of other caregivers,” said Monica McCallum, No Barriers Program Manager, Caregivers. “Her curriculum was implemented with great success at the September Caregiver Retreat as well.”

“Last year, when I was a participant, I never imagined I’d be in this role,” Andrea shared. “But after a year of school, I realized this was exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to give back to No Barriers by taking everything I’d learned, both in my personal experience and my studies, and put it into action.”

Andrea has been actively putting the No Barriers 7 Life Elements into practice since she was a program participant in 2023.

“While I really like all of the Life Elements, Alchemy speaks to me the most. I have a background in the performing arts and sociology. After being so beat down and totally losing myself while caring for my mother, I realized I could make this my life’s work – creating a world that works for caregivers. Through my art projects and caregiver research, I have been able to turn something that held no hope for me into something fueled by hope and possibility.”

Reflecting on the key lessons she has taken with her from the No Barriers Caregiver Retreats, Andrea says, “I have to continue to remember that I can put myself first, and actually, doing so, creates the highest level of functionality possible in the scenario. I am just as important as the person I am caring for.”

Andrea believes that the most important work that No Barriers is doing is seeing, listening, and supporting.

“It is invaluable. No Barriers is at the forefront of creating an infrastructure that makes family caregiving sustainable. I wish more people, politicians, and organizations had that same level of understanding and inspired action around the issue.”

In addition to continuing her master’s program and caring for her parents, Andrea nurtures herself with pilates, yoga, dancing, jumping on a trampoline, walking in the woods, hosting social gatherings, and traveling.