Nurse practitioners step in as geriatrician ranks shrink
Nurse practitioners are not trying to replace doctors — they’re trying to meet patients’ needs, wherever those patients are, an expert said. by Jariel Arvin. This story was originally published on June 15, 2025 in the Washington Post. On Fridays, Stephanie Johnson has a busy schedule, driving her navy-blue Jeep from one patient’s home to…
Read MoreHow Poetry Helps Dementia Caregivers Find Shelter from the Storm
by Holly McDede. This story was originally published on May 16 by KQED, where you can listen to the audio story. Frances Kakugawa is a firm believer that the act of caring for another human being can inspire poetry. She knows this from experience, having cared for her mother, Matsue, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the…
Read MoreTo help older veterans, a Virginia group gives each a ‘battle buddy’
by Wayne Gray. This story was originally published by The Washington Post on November 11, 2024. The organization, which was started by the daughter of a career marine, launched a Battle Buddy Call Center last year to serve veterans nationwide. Pinned to the wall of an office in Warrenton, Virginia, is a banner with the…
Read MoreFarmers Need Help to Survive. A New Crop of Farm Advocates Is on the Way.
by Cara Nixon. This story was originally published by Civil Eats on January 14, 2025. Farmers with expertise in law and finance have long guided the farming community through tough situations, but their numbers have been dropping. Now, thanks to federally funded training, farm advocates are coming back. In 2007, fourth-generation farmer Luciano Alvarado Jr.…
Read MoreSpecial needs trusts bring peace of mind to aging parents of children with disabilities
By Hannah Frances Johansson, This story was originally published by CNN on September 13, 2024. Berkeley, California CNN — Over a decade before her husband’s death, Linda Tung was already concerned with estate planning. Their daughter, Rachel, was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that can greatly hamper mobility. Planning for Rachel’s financial future, one without the…
Read MoreDoctors Saved Her Life. She Didn’t Want Them To.
By Kate Raphael | Photographs by Kristian Thacker This story was originally published in The New York Times on August 26, 2024. Marie Cooper led her life according to her Christian faith. She baked pies for her neighbors in northern West Virginia, and said grace before even a bite of food. She watched Jimmy Swaggart,…
Read MoreThe Enduring Reign of El Daña, Drag King of the Central Valley
By Celeste Hamilton Dennis. This story was originally published in KQED on June 21, 2024. For Elsie Saldaña, a flawless lip sync is the hallmark of serious artistry in drag. She would know. Saldaña has been performing in the Central Valley since the 1960s and still occasionally graces the stage as El Daña — the…
Read More‘It’s a crisis’: Chronic hoarding is costing some older people their homes
Seniors can be evicted due to unsafe clutter. A San Francisco program is helping them clean up and stay housed. by Celeste Hamilton Dennis. This story was originally published in The San Francisco Chronicle on February 3, 2024. There are still a handful of vintage hat boxes in Vera Oliver’s closet. Wrapped in smooth satin…
Read MoreThe Return of the U.S.’s Oldest Drag King
By Celeste Hamilton Dennis , Shereen Marisol Meraji , Leah Donnella , Jess Kung , B.A. Parker , Courtney Stein , Christina Cala , Xavier Lopez , Dalia Mortada , Veralyn Williams , Lori Lizarraga Listen to the full episode on Code Switch. For decades now, drag queens have captured the national imagination. Drag kings,…
Read MorePolice Pilot New Tactics for People With Dementia as Advocates Urge Compassion
by Holly McDede This story was originally published by KQED on January 18, 2024 Gloria Brown was worried when she saw her husband raking leaves in the street outside their home in the city of San Mateo, bringing traffic to a halt. Arthur Brown had been diagnosed with dementia a couple of years before, and…
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