
03-23-21: Boulder shooting, Vaccines, Caregiving
Season 2021 Episode 60 | 29mVideo has Closed Captions
Boulder shooting, people with disabilities having hard time getting vaccine, caregiving
We talked to Congressman Tom O’Halleran this morning about this latest round of mass murder in the U.S. People with disabilities have faced a number of challenges during the pandemic, not the least of which is the ability to get vaccinated. Caregivers have been a critical group providing needed services during the pandemic. We heard about caregiving during such a time of uncertainty.
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

03-23-21: Boulder shooting, Vaccines, Caregiving
Season 2021 Episode 60 | 29mVideo has Closed Captions
We talked to Congressman Tom O’Halleran this morning about this latest round of mass murder in the U.S. People with disabilities have faced a number of challenges during the pandemic, not the least of which is the ability to get vaccinated. Caregivers have been a critical group providing needed services during the pandemic. We heard about caregiving during such a time of uncertainty.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE SPEAK WITH CONGRESSMAN TOM O'HALLERAN ON THE LATEST MASS SHOOTING IN THE U.S. PRESSURE LAWMAKERS ARE FACING TO TAKE ACTION ON GUN CONTROL, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW EDUCATION CAN SOMETIMES HIDE CULTURAL TRUTHS.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.
>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.
FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES WERE FILED TODAY AGAINST THE LOAN SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING IN A COLORADO GROCERY STORE THAT KILLED TEN PEOPLE.
HE IS IN CUSTODY AND CHARGED WITH TEN COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER.
AMONG THOSE KILLED POLICE OFFICER ERIC TALLEY, WHO WAS THE FIRST RESPONDER TO RUN INTO THE STORE.
>> THIS SHOULD NOT BE OUR NEW NORMAL.
WE SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN OUR GROCERY STORES, IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR MOVIE THEATERS, AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO SEE A CHANGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST FAR TOO MANY LIVES.
>> I FEEL NUMB.
IT WAS HEART BREAKING.
HEART BREAKING THINGS ABOUT THE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW?
IT'S A TRAGEDY.
THIS OFFICER HAD SEVEN CHILDREN, AGES 5 TO 18.
I JUST HAD THE WHOLE FAMILY IN MY OFFICE OF THE GIVE THEM AN AWARD, AND SO IT IS PERSONAL.
THIS IS MY COMMUNITY.
I LIVE HERE.
TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN SO CLOSE TO WHERE YOU LIVE, AND TO KNOW THE FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TO KNOW THAT THE OFFICER SACRIFICED HIMSELF.
IT'S HEART BREAKING.
>> OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE WEAPON USED IN THE SHOOTINGS AS AN AR-15 STYLE WEAPON AND BOUGHT A SEMI AUTOMATIC PISTOL A FEW DAYS AGO.
TODAY PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID IT'S TIME FOR THOSE WEAPONS TO BE ILLEGAL.
>> WE CAN BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES ONCE AGAIN IN THIS COUNTRY.
I GOT IT DONE WHEN I WAS A SENATOR.
IT PASSED.
IT WAS A LAW FOR THE LONGEST TIME.
AND IT BROUGHT DOWN THESE MASS SHOOTINGS.
WE SHOULD DO IT AGAIN.
>> WE'LL GET REACTION FROM CONGRESSMAN TOM O'HALLERAN IN JUST A MOMENT.
>>> THE CDC CHANGED ITS GUIDELINES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.
NOW FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN VISIT WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN VACCINATED, BUT THEY ARE RECOMMEND SHORT VISITATIONS.
>>> THE NUMBER OF ARIZONANS FULLY VACCINATED CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND WILL NO DOUBT SURGE WITH YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ANYONE OVER 16 CAN GET A SHOT.
WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION SAY THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> IN THE LAST TEN DAYS AGO, THINGS HAVE REALLY SHIFTED IN TERMS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
TEN YEARS AGO IT WAS LIMITED SUPPLY, AND THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO RESTRICT VACCINES TO 55 AND UP.
>>> ARIZONA TODAY REPORTED 507 NEW CASES OF COVID-19, THAT KEEPS ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE CASE RATE AS AMONG THE BEST IN THE CASE, BUT WE'RE NINTH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY WITH FATALITIES, BUT OVERHAUL DEGREES OVERHALF OF THOSE ARE JUST BEING REPORTED.
>>> AND EXPECT SLOWER SERVICE AND HIGHER PRICES BY THE POSTAL SERVICE.
THAT WAS THE PLAN ANNOUNCED BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
THE PLAN DOES INCLUDE AN EXPANDED SEVEN-DAY PACKAGE DELIVERY AND A VARIETY OF INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
>>> WE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT YESTERDAY'S MASS SHOOTING IN COLORADO THAT KILLED TEN PEOPLE.
WE TALKED TO CONGRESSMAN TOM O'HALLERAN ABOUT THIS LATEST ROUND OF MASS MURDER IN THE U.S.
CONGRESSMAN GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
A ROUGH DAY WHEN WE LOOK TO COLORADO.
YOUR THOUGHTS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN BOULDER.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WEEK, NOW WE'RE GETTING MASS SHOOTINGS.
>> IT DOES.
I WAS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, AND ONE OF MY JOBS WAS TO KNOCK ON THE DOORS OF FAMILIES AND TELL THEM THEY LOST A LOVED ONE.
MY DAUGHTER ASKED ME DID I HEAR WHAT HAPPENED IN COLORADO, AND SHE TOLD ME, AND MY HEART JUST SUNK NOT ONLY FOR THOSE FAMILIES, BUT FOR OUR NATION.
WE -- WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO GO ON -- TRUTH IS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.
WE HAVE TO GET THE BACKGROUND BILL CHECK PASSED AND OTHER ELEMENTS, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY AS A CONGRESS AND AS A PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER ON THIS, AND WORK ON IT NOT IN STARTS AND STOPS AND STARTS AND STOPS.
SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND WORK ON IT TOGETHER UNTIL WE GET THE ANSWER.
>> I HEARD ONE REPUBLICAN SENATOR LAMENTING THAT GUNS ARE BEING TAKEN, HE SAYS, FROM THE WRONG PEOPLE.
THAT THERE IS A WAY TO DO THIS, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THE WRONG PEOPLE.
DOES HE HAVE A POINT?
>> WE HAVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT, BUT IF THEY ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THE WRONG PEOPLE, LET'S FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE WITH BACKGROUND CHECKS.
WHY IS THAT HAPPENING HERE IN AMERICA?
AND IDENTIFYING CLEARLY, THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO THIS PROCESS.
IT'S NOT JUST -- I HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME, THAT IT -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE GUNS.
THEY ARE.
THEY HAVE TO USE THEM SAFELY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE GUNS ARE NOT FORM FORMER FELONS.
THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT IT'S STOPS AND STARTS AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.
>> OFFICIALS SAY THIS WAS AN AR-15-STYLE WEAPON USED AGAIN HERE IN COLORADO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA TO GET THESE THINGS OFF OF THE STREETS?
>> WELL, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THEM OUT THERE, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SECOND AMENDMENT AS IT STANDS TODAY, AND IDENTIFY IF THEY WERE PURCHASED THEM LEGALLY.
WE EITHER HAVE TO HAVE A BUYBACK PROGRAM OR SOMETHING OTHER THAT ALLOWS THERE TO BE SAFETY ON OUR STREETS, BUT ASSAULT WEAPONS IS A STEP FURTHER THAN BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND WE CAN'T GET EVEN THAT DONE.
>> ANOTHER ISSUE THAT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE CONSTANTLY DISCUSSING IS IMMIGRATION.
THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER IS NOT NECESSARILY A CRISIS.
THE CRISIS WAS HOW IT WAS HANDLED BEFORE.
YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> THE CRISIS IS WHEN WE CAN'T SECURE OUR BORDERS, AND CAN'T BE HUMANE TO THE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS, A SO WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT IS BEFORE US RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST PASSED AN AG BILL, NOW WE HAVE TO GET ON TO THE COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED IN 2013.
IT WENT OVER TO THE HOUSE AND WAS DENIED EVEN A HEARING IN THE HOUSE, AND NOW WE HAVE STRUGGLED FOR BECOME EIGHT YEARS ON THIS.
THAT BILL WAS A GOOD BILL THEN.
THE BILL THAT'S COMING OUT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT TO SEE HOW IT COMPARES TO THAT BILL.
HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
WHAT THE ELEMENTS SHOULD BE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE TREATED HUMANELY, AND OUR CITIZENS IN OUR COUNTRY ARE PROTECTED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF COVID, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY CITIZENSHIP FOR OTHERS HERE NOW.
>> REACT TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO SAID THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS TURNED A NATIONAL TRIUMPH INTO NATIONAL DISASTER WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION.
DOES HE HAVE A POINT?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
THERE WAS PENT-UP DEMAND.
WE HAD HUGE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT COME ACROSS BECAUSE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND WE NEED TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS THAT.
WE KNOW THESE COUNTRIES ARE JUST TERRIBLE DICTATORSHIPS, AND WHEN I FLEW INTO HONDURAS, AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULD NOT LEAVE THE MILITARY BASE, BECAUSE THEY WERE FEARFUL OF OUR LIVES IF WE LEFT THE MILITARY BASE, AND WE HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE AREALLYING IN DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND COUNTRIES ARE OVERRUN WITH DRUG GROUPS AND BRINGING THOSE DRUGS NORTH, AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THOUGH ISSUES.
>> LAST QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENED IN COLORADO, AND CALLS TO DO SOMETHING, REGARDING IMMIGRATION, THE ASYLUM PROCESS.
IS THIS ALL THREATENING TO OVERSHADOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO COMBAT COVID?
>> COVID IS IMPORTANT, BY SO IS IMMIGRATION AND VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND WE HAVE TO OVER COME THOSE ISSUES MULTIPLE ISSUES AT ONE TIME.
>> AND CONGRESS IS ABLE TO DO THIS?
>> THEY BETTER BE.
>> CONGRESSMAN TOM O'HALLERAN, SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
STAY HEALTHY, AND STAY SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, TED.
THANK YOU.
>>> UP NEXT ON HORIZONTAL, THE CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN GETTING A COVID VACCINE.
>>> PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE FACED A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES DURING THE PANDEMIC.
NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE ABILITY TO GET VACCINATED.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH MARK BOTTER-BUSCH, VICE-PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AT GOMPERS.
MARK, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WHAT IS GOMPERS?
>> WE SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH PRIMARILY WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
WE HAVE TWO DAY PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE A PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE THAT RANGES FROM A CENTER-BASED PROGRAM TO COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT.
>> AND HOW HAS GOMPERS BEEN EFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC THUS FAR?
>> INITIALLY, LIKE MOST AGENCIES WE CLOSED ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO.
SO THEN THE HOPE WAS IN A MONTH, TWO MONTHS MAYBE, WE WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL AND REOPEN.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAD TO SHIFT THAT DRAMATICALLY.
WE DID REOPEN ON A VERY SMALL SCALE STARTING IN AUGUST AND WITH OUR DAY PROGRAMS IN SEPTEMBER.
BY WE'RE PROBABLY OPERATING AT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CAPACITY, WHICH HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A THIRD OF THE NUMBERS, BUT THE BUILDINGS ARE THE SAME SIZE, AND THE OVERHEAD IS THE SAME PRICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO REVENUE WISE, IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE, BUT WE'RE GLAD WE CAN HAVE THE PEOPLE COMING THAT WE DO.
WE WEAR MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCE, SO PEOPLE THAT HAVE RETURNED HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WEAR MASKS AND MAINTAIN THEIR DISTANCE.
>> AND ANOTHER CHALLENGE WITH COVID, NOW THAT VACCINES HAVE BEEN OPENED UP, IS GETTING FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES TO VACCINATION CENTERS -- GETTING THEM REGISTERED FIRST OF ALL AND THEN THE TRANSPORTATION ASPECT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE, I WOULD IMAGINE.
>> A HUGE CHALLENGE, AND IF YOU HAVE GONE TO A SITE, AND GOTTEN THE VACCINE, IT'S STAY IN THE CAR, AND THEY REACH IN THROUGH YOUR WINDOW.
IF YOU ARE IN A VAN THAT IS ACCESSIBLE, THE WINDOWS WON'T OPEN UP.
NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING MOBILE CLINICS TO COME TO EACH OF OUR SITES THROUGH MERCY CARE.
SO THEY WILL GIVE THE VACCINE TO ANYONE WHO IS ATTENDING AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
OBVIOUSLY EARLY ON THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH VACCINE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY EARLY ON, FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES WERE NOT ON THE HIGH RISK LIST HERE FOR VACCINATIONS.
WERE YOU GIVEN AN EXPLANATION ON THAT?
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> MY OPINIONS -- I GUESS -- I DON'T KNOW, THEY HAD TO DECIDE WHAT GROUPS WOULD BE PICKED FIRST.
WAS IT AGE?
WAS IT HIGH RISK?
CERTAINLY PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES HAVE A LOT OF OTHER COMPLICATING FACTORS, NOW PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT FOR QUITE SOMETIME, BUT AGAIN, IT WAS THAT DIFFICULTY OF HOW DO YOU GET THEM THERE.
NOW THAT THEY ARE DOING MOBILE CLINICS, IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER.
>> HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT DID THAT MAKE ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH DISABILITIES?
>> WELL, I KNOW A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES REALLY ISOLATED THEIR INDIVIDUALS KNOWING THEY WERE AT HIGH RISK, AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE RELAXED IN GETTING PEOPLE OUT AND EVEN MORE SOCIAL.
IN THIS COMMUNITY, SOCIALIZATION IS SO IMPORTANT, AND THE WHOLE COVID IMPACT HAS BEEN DEVASTATING, AND UNDERSTANDING WHY CAN'T WE GO MEET WITH PEOPLE?
AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES JUST BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE, IT HAS TO COME WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HEALTH SERVICES OR THE CDC, BUT HOPEFULLY ONCE WE GET ENOUGH VACCINE IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
DECEMBER WAS ROUGH.
IN DECEMBER, WE HAD TO CUT BACK A LITTLE BIT AND INCREASE THE DISTANCE, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WERE COMING IN COVID POSITIVE, AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO SPREAD INTERNALLY, WE EVEN CUT BACK A LITTLE MORE.
BUT, YES, IT FEELS MORE RELAXED.
THERE ARE A LOT FEWER PEOPLE SAYING I MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.
IT HAS BEEN NICE.
>> MARK BOTTER-BUSCH, GOMPERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> CAREGIVERS HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL GROUP PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC.
"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH DR. PAULINE BOSS, PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ABOUT CARE GIVING IN A TIME OF SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY.
>> DR. BOSS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> YOUR WORK IS FOCUSED ON CARE GIVING FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA, AND YOU TALK ABOUT REDUCING THE STRESS ON CAREGIVERS FOR PEOPLE WHO'S LOVED ONES ARE, AS YOU PUT IT, AMBIGUOUSLY LOST.
>> WELL, THAT MEANS THE LOSS IS UNCLEAR.
IN THE CASE OF CARE GIVING, THE PERSON IS STILL PRESENT, BUT IN THE CASE OF DEMENTIA, THEY ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND COGNITIVELY DISAPPEARING.
THERE IS ANOTHER KIND OF AMBIGUOUS LOSS WHERE THE PERSON IS PHYSICALLY MISSING, BUT KEPT PSYCHOLOGICALLY PRESENT, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE DEAD OR ALIVE.
MY FIRST RESEARCH WAS WITH FAMILIES WITH MISSING IN ACTION SOLDIERS.
BUT TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TYPE WHERE THE PERSON IS LIVING WITH YOU PERHAPS, AND IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU CAN TOUCH THEM, BUT THEY ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABSENT, AND IN SOME CASES GONE.
PEOPLE WOULD DESCRIBE IT THAT WAY.
>> AND I'M SURE THAT THAT IS STRESSFUL NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE, BUT I WOULD THINK EVEN MORE SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND DeWITT SPONSORED A SYMPOSIUM LAST WEEK, AND YOU WERE ONE OF THE PRESENTERS.
TELL US ABOUT THE ADVICE YOU GAVE DURING THE SYMPOSIUM.
>> WELL, WE NEED TO FIRST OF ALL IDENTIFY OUR LOSSES BEFORE WE CAN COPE WITH THEM, AND THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN FRAUGHT WITH LOSSES.
WE ARE A NATION, IF NOT A WORLD IN GRIEF RIGHT NOW, SO THE KINDS OF LOSSES WE HAVE ARE BOTH CLEAR AND AMBIGUOUS.
AN EXAMPLE OF CLEAR WOULD BE LOSS OF YOUR SALARY, YOUR JOB, YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME.
YOU CAN MEASURE THAT LOSS.
THE OTHER KINDS OF LOSSES ARE PRIMARILY AMBIGUOUS LOSSES DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR EVERYBODY, AND EVEN MORE SO FOR CARE GIVERS.
THE LOSS OF BEING ABLE TO TOUCH SOMEBODY ELSE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME.
THE LOSS OF HAVING TIME TO YOURSELF LIKE GOING TO A GYM OR RESTAURANT, OR GOD FORBID GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU CAN'T EVEN DO THAT IF YOU ARE ELDERLY AND A CAREGIVER.
SO THE CARE GIVERS ARE MORE ISOLATED THAN THEY EVER WERE.
AND PEOPLE CAN'T COME AND VISIT.
THEY CAN'T COME IN TO HELP, SO THAT THE BURDEN ON THE CAREGIVER IS HIGHER THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
>> SO WHAT KIND OF ADVICE DID YOU GIVE THE PEOPLE WHO WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE SYMPOSIUM ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE ADDED BURDENS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK YOU SHOULD SIT DOWN AND LIST THE LOSS THAT YOU HAVE, AND INCLUDE AMBIGUOUS LOSSES LIKE LOSS OF TRUST IN THE WORLD, LOSS OF TRUST IN OUR LEADERS, LOSS OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE A FUNERAL, AND IT'S OKAY TO GRIEVE THOSE LOSSES EVEN WHILE THE PERSON IS STILL ALIVE, BECAUSE THEY ARE MAJOR LOSSES TO YOU, AND YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY THEM.
WE ALSO NEED TOE FIND MEANING AND NEW HOPE IN WHAT IS GOING ON, AND THE MEANING FOR CARE GIVING, FOR EXAMPLE, NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN A BURDEN, WHICH OF COURSE IT IS.
IT'S DARN HARD WORK.
I HAVE BEEN A CARE GIVER TOO.
SO I KNOW IT'S UNBELIEVABLY DIFFICULT WORK, BUT IT HAS TO HAVE ANOTHER MEANING, AND IF YOU CAN SEARCH FOR THAT AND FIND IT, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL, AND IT MAY BE THAT YOU ARE DOING IT OUT OF LOVE, OR TO SAVE THE FAMILY MONEY.
IT MAY BE THAT YOU ARE DOING IT OUT OF ALTRUISM, OR EMPATHY, BUT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOURSELF WHAT IT IS, AND THEN THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME HOPE, SOME NEW HOME, AND WITH DEMENTIA, USUALLY THAT DOES NOT GET BETTER, SO THE NEW HOPE HAS TO BECOME OUTSIDE OF THE ILLNESS SITUATION.
IT HAS TO BE -- MAYBE I'LL GO BACK TO SCHOOL, OR MAYBE I'LL START WRITING POETRY, OR WORKING ON EXERCISING, OR COOKING.
>> DR. BOSS IS THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF CAREGIVERS THAT -- IN FAMILIES OF COLOR?
IS IT DIFFERENT FOR THEM THAN IT MIGHT BE FOR OTHERS?
>> YES, IT IS DIFFERENT.
THE DISPARITIES, SADLY, ARE MULTIPLE.
FIRST OF ALL THE PANDEMIC IS DOING MORE HARM TO FAMILIES OF COLOR THAN WHITE FAMILIES WHO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND AFFORDABILITY OF GOOD HOUSING, AND THE OTHER THING IS LESS LIKELY TO LIVE IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS, ALTHOUGH THAT IS INCREASING IN ALL RACES NOW, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
BUT FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY LATINO FAMILIES, THE NORM HAS BEEN MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILIES, AND BY THE WAY I GREW UP IN ONE, AND I KNOW THE BEAUTY OF IT, AND THE FUN OF IT, AND THE HELP THAT IS ALL AROUND, BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT MEANS THERE IS MORE CHANCE FOR SPREADING THE DISEASE WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THEIR JOBS AND COME BACK IN AND SO ON.
SO THE DANGER IS UP, AND YET THE HELP IS THERE.
IT IS MORE HELPFUL TO HAVE MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS WHEN YOU ARE CARE GIVING, BUT BRINGING IN THE VIRUS IS HIGHER.
BUT WE MUST FACE THE SYSTEMIC RACISM FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
>> DR. PAULINE BOSS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND TO TALK ABOUT YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.
I'M TED SIMONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, EMPLOYEES AT A LOCAL GROCERY CHAIN WORK TO HELP IN THE PANDEMIC.
AND ON AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW EDUCATION CAN SOMETIMES HIDE CULTURAL TRUTHS.

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