Journalist, Activist Des Cooper on “The Long Goodbye” of Caring for Aging Parents
Cooper joins Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to talk about her own experiences and the many others in similar situations.
Desiree Cooper in the WDET studio in March 2019. Photo credit: Jake Neher/WDET.
Who cares for us when we get older? It’s a question we all face, sometimes with great trepidation and uncertainty. But it’s not just about what happens to us. It’s also about what happens to the caregivers who ensure we are OK.
Becoming that caregiver often happens without that person having any say in the matter. So often, that person is a woman. And even more often, that person is a woman of color.
Desiree Cooper is a journalist, activist, and longtime Detroiter. She’s also now a full time caregiver herself and has been writing about what that means for her and so many others. She joins Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to talk about her own experiences and the people she has met along the way.
If you or others who may be caregiving need assistance, check out the following resources:
- The Detroit Area Agency on Aging offers free classes and programs
- “36 Hour Day,” a book by Nancy Mace, is a guide for caregivers helping those with Alzheimer disease and other dementias,
- “Understanding Difficult Behaviors” is a book written for caregivers about caring for those with dementia
- MetroParent also compiled a comprehensive list of local resources for caregivers in Metro Detroit
Click on the audio player above to hear that conversation.
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