Hello Friends from around the world! If you've listened to Laura Barr on The Shape of Care, you'll want to hear this! It's a sneak peek clip from Episode 5 of Next Chapters, featuring Laura again with a great story. It's called: On the road: Adventures in aging! Here's our website for Next Chapters: https://ourbodiesourselves.org/next-chapters And here's the Apple link, one of the channels where many of you listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-chapters/id1825387175 Happy listening!

Welcome to an exclusive sneak peek of Episode 3 of Next Chapters - Relationships and sex: Don't be afraid of hard conversations. In this episode, we hear from musician and organizer, Sheryl Wiser, who found love again in her 60s with a “young 71-year-old man”. And we talk to Dr. Jane Fleishman, a certified sexuality educator who is on a mission to promote the sexual wellness of older adults. If you're enjoying Next Chapters, please review it. That helps other people find the podcast. And check out our website: https://ourbodiesourselves.org/next-chapters. Each episode has "show notes", which include more info about the episode topics, guest bios and photos, essays by guest authors, and links to additional resources. Happy listening - and reading!

We're thrilled to announce the release of our first episode of Next Chapters, a podcast about the remarkable landscape of growing older for women. In this episode, podcast host and co-producer, Mindy Fried, shares an unnerving set of experiences she had with a medical practitioner. Judith Graham, a journalist who writes about ageism in health care for major media outlets, shares her insights regarding how to address the problem. And sociologist Dr. Karen Bullock draws on her seminal research and experience in discussing the impact of racism on access to health care for older Black people.

Hello Friends of The Shape of Care! Check out Next Chapters, my new podcast about growing older for women. It's a project of Our Bodies Ourselves, and the Trailer just launched. Episodes start on August 13th!

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!

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. And Alex Spanko from the Green House Project puts out a call to action.

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.

This episode explores how Shazia Anwar helps Darlen Wagenius and her husband, Joe, address challenges in accessing quality long term care services. Shazia talks about her introduction to home care activism through her work with SEIU775. And we look at an innovative policy in Washington state and policy efforts at the national level.

Nearly 2.3 million care workers provide personal assistance and health care support to older adults and people with disabilities in their homes. This episode illuminates the relationship between Shazia Anwar, a professional home care worker in Washington state, and the woman she cares for, Darlen Wagenius. Shazia becomes an advocate for Darlen, and for all home care workers.

Trailer for Season 2 of The Shape of Care podcast.

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 address them. Robin also describes the important work of the Massachusetts Caregiver Coalition, a group of employers led by the Massachusetts Business Roundtable.

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.

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 home with clients, how has this essential worker become the eyes and the ears for other medical practitioners who cannot see their patients?

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 his 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 joy to this "new normal", as she spends 24/7 with her mother, engaging in creative projects and a lot of reminiscing. She also shares an epiphany that she's recently had about her many caregiving experiences.

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 in her family, and how that has influenced choices she has made. She speaks candidly and with humor about the challenges of supporting her mother, while juggling her own teaching schedule, and how that routine has changed during the pandemic.

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 - which will, in turn, help them navigate "care systems", and the kinds of services they can expect to find.

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 Ira's death.

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 countries. They represent Italy, South Korea, Slovenia and Kenya. And each of them are members of a global Carework Network.

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 the face of the pandemic.

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 Rick Surpin, a leader in the home care field in New York City. Rick talks about the impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers and the families they serve.