University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law alumnus Dan Salinger ’96 has gone viral on TikTok, amassing 2.2 million followers. His content largely centers on his life as a caregiver for his elderly father, who has dementia. 

Salinger’s videos document the realities of caregiving, the good, the bad, and the challenging, but also highlight the deep bond that has formed between him, his father, and the rest of his family.  

As Salinger explained, “It’s probably the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, to be honest with you. It’s given me a lot and [it has] changed my priorities in life.” 

Salinger previously worked as a criminal defense attorney in Elk Grove, Calif. for 20 years. He began creating content during COVID when his father moved in with him full-time.  

“I started sharing poetry, some couples stuff, family stuff, basically a family channel,” Salinger said. “I made a video of him trying to start the car, and it was just kind of a minute video where it was an intense interaction.”  

That 2021 video of Salinger’s dad trying to start his car went viral and sparked interest from viewers seeking to understand the challenges of caregiving. 

Salinger credits his father’s humor as a key part of the channel’s success.  

“I also got really lucky because my dad is one in a million. He is the real star of the channel. I can’t pop off these amazing one-liners, you know, dementia man who can give it back pretty good,” he said. 

The TikTok channel has also strengthened family connections.  

“It has created a bond that I never expected. It has also brought all of my siblings around because here’s my dad. They now have to check in. It has boosted the relationship, not only with my dad but with my entire family,” Salinger said. 

Salinger also noted that his legal training has helped him in content creation.  

“The practice of that, the education, training and practice of law prepares you to do a lot more than just practice law. I’ve definitely taken legal skills and applied them to the way that I deliver social media, and it has been a benefit,” he said. 

His initial goal was simply to build a community for caregivers, but the channel’s reach exceeded his expectations.  

“Social media has been a huge benefit for him, not just his interaction with people, but what it has done for me and my wife. Social caregiving is very lonely, and it’s isolating. But thanks to social media, I’m not isolated, living in a hole somewhere,” Salinger said. 

Salinger is currently developing an app for caregivers, aiming to create a space where others navigating similar experiences can connect, interact, and build community both online and offline.