Listen to Season 2 of The Shape of Care!

Welcome to The Shape of Care, a dynamic podcast that explores the world of caregiving!

The Shape of Care illuminates the costs, financial and otherwise, of hiring (caregivers), the toll on the caregivers, and the need for a rethinking of a widening hole in the infrastructure of American health care. – Phoebe Lett, The New York Times

Season 2 begins with intimate stories of care workers and the people they care for. But their issues are larger than just one story. We connect these personal and compelling stories to the broader policy landscape – through interviews with nursing home leaders, policymakers, union activists, and more. And we ask:  What kinds of long term care policies do we need so that anyone can receive quality, affordable care?

Please help us by DONATING here. We’re grateful for your all of your support. And please let us know if you want to hear how you can be a SPONSOR for The Shape of Care!
 

Episodes

EP1 – When your romantic partner has Parkinson’s Disease

Laurie Sheridan speaks candidly with warmth and humor, as she describes what it’s like caring 24/7 for her husband, Ira, who has Parkinson’s...

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EP2 – Ai-Jen Poo and Sarita Gupta: Reimagining Caregiving Policies

Ai-jen Poo and Sarita Gupta, call for a comprehensive caregiving policy in the U.S. Ai-jen is the Director of the National...

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EP3 — Linking Quality Care Jobs and Quality of Care

Rick Surpin, founder of Cooperative Home Care Associates, talks about some disturbing early experiences that drive his passion for supporting person-centered care. And...

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EP4 — Alzheimer’s Disease: Holding onto joy

Laura Barr talks with humor and openness about caring for her wife, Jean, who has Alzheimer’s Disease, from when Jean was diagnosed to...

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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...

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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...

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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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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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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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 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...

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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...

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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...

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