Episodes

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Season 2, Episode 5: Behind the scenes of The Shape of Care: Lisa Mullins interviews Mindy Fried

In this episode, Lisa Mullins, award-winning journalist and the podcast's advisor, interviews Mindy to get a behind the scenes look at The Shape of Care. In this animated conversation, you learn more about what motivated Mindy to create the podcast, and how she put all the pieces together!

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Season 2, Episode 4: She calls me her three c’s:  compassion, caring and comfort

This episode examines the critical role professional care workers play in guiding clients through the dying process. Ai-jen Poo, Co-Director of Caring Across Generations, weighs in on the long-term care crisis our country faces, and U.S. Senator Bob Casey discusses a series of long term care-related policies he’s fighting to pass.

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Season 2, Episode 3: Nursing assistants: the heart and soul of nursing care

This episode chronicles the powerful relationship between Paula Fox, a dynamic Certified Nursing Assistant who cares for 94-year-old Rose Santilli, a resident at the Jewish Home in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It also explores alternative models for skilled nursing care.

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Season 2, Episode 2: Making a difference: From care work to home care activism

This episode explores how Shazia Anwar helps Darlen Wagenius and her husband, Joe, address challenges in accessing quality long term care services.

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Season 2, Episode 1: From fear to love: An evangelical Christian and a Muslim home care worker

This episode illuminates the relationship between Shazia Anwar, a professional home care worker in WA, and the woman she cares for, Darlen Wagenius.

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Trailer for Season 2 of The Shape of Care

Trailer for Season 2 of The Shape of Care podcast.

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Government and Employers: Key partners in supporting caregivers

Episode Notes In this episode, we talk with Robin Lipson, the Deputy Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Robin discusses some of the programs and policies for caregivers that her office manages. She notes the challenges that caregivers face, especially during this pandemic, as well as their creative and positive strategies to...

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Following a public scandal in nursing homes in Quebec, Canada, some good news for caregivers…

Episode Notes In this episode, we interview Donna Thomson, Canadian author, educator and advocate for family caregivers. She talks about a public scandal in nursing homes in Québec, Canada. And how government intervention resulted in some very positive changes for caregivers of nursing home residents and their loved ones..

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Physical therapy with elders: What’s it look like in a pandemic?

Episode Notes In this episode, we interview Meg Flaherty-Griffith, a visiting geriatric physical therapist who does home visits with elders. What does it mean to provide high touch care during a pandemic? How has Meg’s “job description” expanded to include simple tasks like buying milk for a client? And beyond what Meg does in the...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: An interview with Roberta Rosenberg

Episode Notes In this episode, Roberta Rosenberg speaks openly about the traumatic accident her son experienced 2 1/2 years ago and his successful healing journey, with support from family. And how, more recently, she has taken her mother out of a senior living facility, and moved her into her family’s home. Roberta brings creativity and...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: An interview with Taura Taylor

Episode Notes In this episode, we welcome sociologist Taura Taylor, a Visiting Lecturer at Georgia State University who teaches about race and resilience. Over the years, Taura has played a caregiver role to a number of family members, and three years ago, her mother moved in with her. Taura talks about the culture of caregiving...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: An interview with elder care expert, Karen Wasserman

Episode Notes Elder care expert, Karen Wasserman, shares both tragic and uplifting stories based on her work with elders and their families during this difficult time. In sharing how her Boston-based agency helps elders and their families, she provides a powerful roadmap for caregivers to help them find services and support in their own localities...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: An interview with Laurie Sheridan

Episode Notes In this episode, Laurie Sheridan returns to the podcast to talk about the death of her husband, Ira, who had Parkinson’s Disease. Sadly, Ira died – two months before the pandemic hit. Find out how Laurie is coping with the loss, where she’s finding joy, and her surprising reaction to the timing of...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: a Global Perspective

Episode Notes What can we learn from global perspectives about the impact of the pandemic on care workers and caregivers? For one thing, the universality of what we’re all going through. But there’s more. In this episode, we welcome four researchers who share their insights about the impact of the global pandemic in their respective...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: An interview with Maria Colville

Episode Summary This episode features an interview with Marie Colville, a professional home care worker who has been doing this work for 30 years. You’ll hear Maria talk about the childhood experiences that inspired her to do this work. And prepare to be inspired by her fearlessness and passion for caring for others, even in...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: An interview with Rick Surpin

Episode Summary How are home care workers doing during this pandemic? As front-line workers, the nature of their work is hands-on and up close. These workers face major issues about staying protected and safe. And what about the people they’re caring for? How are families in need of care dealing with this crisis? Mindy interviews...

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Caregiving in the Time of Corona: Interview with Laura Barr

Episode Summary How are caregivers coping during this global health crisis? The Shape of Care podcast is releasing a series of interviews with people who are caring for a loved one right now. In this episode, Mindy brings back a guest from Season 1 – Laura Barr – whose wife, Jean, has Alzheimer’s Disease. In...

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EP7 — Q&A with Karen Wasserman, Elder Care Expert

This is our final episode for Season 1! In this episode, elder care expert, Karen Wasserman, responds to listeners' questions and concerns.

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EP6 — Homophobia in elder care

This episode explores homophobia in elder care, featuring the LGBT Aging Project founder, Dale Mitchell. We also meet Rebekah Levitt, Executive Director of Rogerson House, who brought LGBT sensitivity training to her staff. And we hear from Laura Barr, who shares her own concerns about homophobia in institutional care.

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EP5 — Alzheimer’s Disease: How to cope when it gets sadder

Laura Barr makes another big decision – to move her wife, Jean, out of Rogerson House and into a skilled nursing facility. This is emotionally hard, but she finds creative ways to cope.

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