Caregiving Can Be Tough and Isolating. It Can Also Connect Us.

KQED News

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Systemic Neglect: How Staffing Shortages In Nursing Homes Leave Patients Trapped in Hospitals

When taking care of a loved one becomes too hard, families often look to nursing homes for help. But finding long term care in California is not easy right now. The industry took a big hit during the pandemic and many facilities are still recovering from staffing shortages. Some patients with complex diagnoses are waiting weeks, months and even years for a bed. KQED health correspondent Lesley McClurg has the story of one man in the Bay Area who has tried everything to find care for his wife.

A Caregiving Son and a Mom with Alzheimer’s Find a Musical Connection

What happens when the parent-child role is reversed? In caregiving, this kind of role reversal is common. And it’s what happened to Rob Fordyce. After his 85-year-old mom, Susan, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two years ago, Rob moved back into his childhood home to take care of her. And despite Susan’s advancing disease, Rob found a surprising way for the two of them to connect, through music. Cayla Mihalovich has their story.

How An LA Child Care Influencer Became A Resource For Providers Across The Country

Child care happens in a lot of different settings: a school, or a center, or a church. What you may not know is that more than a quarter of California’s child care facilities are actually in private homes. And for those providers, it can be a real challenge to juggle caregiving with running a small business. Tonya Mohammad knows this firsthand and understands the myriad of issues that child care providers face. So she’s built a following via social media by sharing her three decades of experience taking care of infants and toddlers in Los Angeles. LAist reporter Mariana Dale brings us her story.