With local and national elections just weeks away, we spoke with Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy for Caring Across Generations, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to build real, helpful, thoughtful care systems by transforming cultural norms and narratives about aging, disability and care, fighting for policy change at every level, and uniting a powerful coalition across the millions of us who are touched by care. Nicole shares the current state of care, what’s at stake in the upcoming elections, and what caregivers and their supporters can do to make a difference.
Advocacy is an enormous part of the role of the caregiver. We advocate on behalf of our loved ones in medical spaces, with friends and family, in the community, and even directly with our person. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss these aspects of advocacy, how personality traits impact our comfort with these tasks, and how supporters can help.
Stories of caregiving are becoming more prevalent in both the news and in the entertainment industry. In this episode, Justin and Allison weigh in about how accurately they feel it’s being portrayed and the impact of this type of representation for both caregivers and their supporters.
Allison describes the recent battles she has been fighting since learning that Sean's home health supplies are not covered under Medicare. Justin shares the dehumanizing process Sarah went through when applying for disability. Both dig in to what it feels like to fight back against a broken system.
After attending a summit on caregiving, Allison shares what she learned about potential policy changes that may support caregivers. She and Justin talk about what they would wish for in terms of systemic change and what it feels like to have this role seen and recognized by people in positions of power. Also, Justin joins the Pandemic Puppy Club!
Allison and Justin talk about the extra challenges they face as caregivers of people who live with rare conditions, including education of family members, friends, and medical staff. Also, Allison got a puppy.