The Shape of Care

Sneak peek of Next Chapters podcast: On the road

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Laura Barr) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

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!

Sneak peek: Episode 3 of Next Chapters: Relationships and sex

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

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!

Announcing first episode of Next Chapters: Confronting discrimination in health care

mindy@fried.net (Judith Graham, Karen Bullock, Mindy Fried) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

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.

Check out Next Chapters, my new podcast about growing older for women!

mindy@fried.net (MIndy Fried, Elizabeth White, Jane Fleishman, Toni Calasanti) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

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!

Behind the scenes of The Shape of Care: Lisa Mullins interviews Mindy Fried

mindy@fried.net (Lisa Mullins, Mindy Fried) — Mon, 8 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000

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!

She called me her three c’s: compassion, caring and comfort

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Check out www.theshapeofcare.org/episodes to see guest bios and photos, links to relevant articles and resources, and for Episode 4, you'll see an amazing essay by Ai-jen Poo, Director of Care Can't Wait, and Co-Director of Caring Across Generations.

Nursing assistants: the heart and soul of nursing care

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Check out www.theshapeofcare.org/episodes to see guest bios and photos, links to relevant articles and resources, and for Episode 3, you'll see an excerpt of an interview with Senator Bob Casey!

Making a difference: From care work to home care activism

Tue, 5 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Check out www.theshapeofcare.org/episodes to see guest bios and photos, links to relevant articles and resources, and an essay by guest author, Dr. Sonya Michel, Professor Emerita of History and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her essay is entitled, Elder Care and Global Care Chains.

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

mindy@fried.net (Shazia Anwar, Darlen Wagenius, Adam Glickman, Mindy Fried) — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Check out www.theshapeofcare.org to see guest bios and photos, links to relevant articles and resources, and an essay by guest author,Fumilayo Showers, an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut. The essay is entitled, Immigrant Social Networks and the Little-Known Story of African Immigrants Providing Solutions to the “Crisis of Care” in the US.

Trailer for Season 2 of The Shape of Care

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Season 2 of The Shape of Care, a podcast about caregiving. Over the next four episodes, we’ll bring you into the lives of two “care pairs”, two PAID workers and the people they care for. And we’ll focus on two very different worlds of care. Nursing homes, which many of us wouldn’t want for ourselves, let alone our loved ones.And home-based care – which is what most of us would want, right? To stay in our own homes, to get services as we need them, and stay close to everything and everyone that’s familiar… So that’s where we’re going to start.

Government and Employers: Key partners in supporting caregivers

mindy@fried.net (Robin Lipson) — Tue, 9 Jun 2020 14:33:34 +0000

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.

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

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Donna Thomson) — Tue, 26 May 2020 19:09:18 +0000

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..

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

mindy@fried.net (Meg Flaherty-Griffith, Mindy Fried) — Mon, 18 May 2020 14:25:31 +0000

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?

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

mindy@fried.net (Roberta Rosenberg, Mindy Fried) — Sun, 10 May 2020 18:25:19 +0000

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 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.

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

mindy@fried.net (Taura Taylor, Mindy Fried) — Mon, 4 May 2020 16:12:21 +0000

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.

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

mindy@fried.net (Karen Wasserman, Mindy Fried) — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 17:50:32 +0000

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.

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

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Laurie Sheridan) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:54:28 +0000

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.

Caregiving in the Time of Corona: a Global Perspective

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 20:38:50 +0000

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.

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

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Maria Colville) — Tue, 7 Apr 2020 17:06:03 +0000

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.

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

mindy@fried.net (Rick Surpin, Mindy Fried) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:40:31 +0000

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.

Caregiving in the Time of Corona: Interview with Laura Barr

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Laura Barr) — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 15:59:34 +0000

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 an honest and heartfelt conversation, Laura talks about some of the realities she and her kids are facing with Jean living in a nursing home now. She also talks about a support group she created for LGBTQ caregivers, and where she finds joy these days!

Q&A with Karen Wasserman, Elder Care Expert

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Karen Wasserman) — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 06:00:11 +0000

This is our final episode for Season 1! In this episode, Mindy interviews Karen Wasserman, a national elder care expert, and the Director of Your Elder Care Experts. Karen responds to a series of important questions and comments listeners sent in through voice and email messages. These include: how to help a loved one in need who is resisting support; where to find community-based resources to help navigate the care system; the role of aging life care managers, where to find support for caregivers; and how to negotiate care with siblings.

Homophobia in elder care

mindy@fried.net (Laura Barr, Mindy Fried, Rebekah Levit, Dale Mitchell) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 06:00:07 +0000

This episode explores homophobia in elder care, and features several people, including Dale Mitchell from Ethos and the LGBT Aging Project; Rebekah Levit, the Executive Director of Rogerson House, who brought in training via the LBGT Aging Project to sensitize her staff to issues facing LGBT elders; and Laura Barr, who reflects on her concerns about how Jean may be treated as a lesbian living in a long-term care institution.

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

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Laura Barr, Dale Mitchell) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 06:00:11 +0000

This episode is an update to Laura Barr's story, in which her wife, Jean, has moved to a skilled nursing facility. She talks frankly about Jean’s decline, and the impact it has on her. And she talks about creative ways she’s coping. We include a teaser from Dale Mitchell, the (now) former CEO of Ethos, and the founder of the LGBT Aging Project, a unique program at Ethos which serves LGBT elders.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Holding onto joy

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Adam Burrows, Laura Barr, Lygia Angel) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 06:00:15 +0000

This episode features Laura Barr talking about caring for her wife, Jean, who has Alzheimer’s Disease. Laura tells the story of Jean’s diagnosis and decline and reflects on the decisions she has had to make along the way around Jean’s care. This episode also brings listeners into the world of institutional care, as Jean moves into Rogerson House, a dementia facility in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. We also meet Dr. Adam Burrows, the Medical Director of PACE, a program designed to support frail elders so they can remain in their homes, but also supports people if they require institutional care. And Miss Lygia Angel, a Recreation Assistant at Rogerson House, has a cameo, reflecting on the activities she runs that engage residents.

Linking quality care jobs and quality of care

mindy@fried.net (Rick Surpin, Tutu Cherif, Mindy Fried) — Tue, 5 Nov 2019 06:00:10 +0000

This episode features Rick Surpin, founder of Cooperative Home Care Associates, who shares disturbing stories from his childhood that drives his passion for supporting person-centered care. Rick talks about why it’s so important that care workers are paid well and respected on the job, if they are to provide quality care to frail elders. He also makes the distinction between care work provided through agencies versus through independent networks. The episode also features Tutu, a veteran care worker, who began as an agency worker, and now has her own business providing care to elders and their families. We include a teaser from Laura Barr, who is featured in Episode 4. Laura is caring for her wife, Jean, who has Alzheimer’s Disease.

Ai-jen Poo and Sarita Gupta: Reimagining Caregiving Policies

mindy@fried.net (Sarita Gupta, Ai-jen Poo) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 05:00:15 +0000

This episode features Ai-jen Poo, Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Sarita Gupta, who co-directs Caring Across Generations with Ai-jen. These powerhouse activists lay out an agenda that addresses the lack of a comprehensive and coherent caregiving policy in the U.S. They also share their own challenges they’ve faced caring for elders in their families, as well as juggling caring for parents and a child, in Sarita’s case. At the end of the episode, you'll hear a “teaser” from Episode 3, with Rick Surpin. Rick founded Cooperative Home Care Associates, the first worker-owned home care agency, based in NYC.

When your romantic partner has Parkinson's Disease

mindy@fried.net (Mindy Fried, Ai-jen Poo, Laurie Sheridan, Rick Surpin) — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 05:00:13 +0000

This episode features Laurie Sheridan, who speaks candidly with warmth and humor as she describes what it’s like caring 24/7 for her husband, Ira, who has Parkinson’s Disease. Rick Surpin has a cameo in this episode. Rick is the Founder of Cooperative Home Care Associates, a worker-owned home care agency in New York City. At the end of the episode, we hear a “teaser” from Ai-jen Poo who is featured, along with Sarita Gupta, in Episode 2. Ai-jen directs the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Ai-jen and Sarita Co-Direct Caring Across Generations.

Trailer: Introducing The Shape of Care

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 01:53:25 +0000

The Shape of Care explores the world of caregiving. In this series, we look at who does the caregiving in the U.S. and why it’s so important. You’ll hear stories of caregivers and the people they care for, and from experts and activists tackling these issues, trying to improve conditions for workers and the care they provide.