In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, U.S. Air Force veteran and Detroit Lions fan, John Nordine, shares his life-changing journey with spinal cerebellar ataxia, which has significantly impacted his mobility. John highlights the essential role of direct care workers in his daily life and the challenges he faces due to limited support hours and worker shortages in his region.

Despite these challenges, John remains resilient, expressing hope for a future where direct care workers receive better training and compensation to meet the needs of those they serve. This episode sheds light on the crucial role of direct care and the need for systemic changes to support veterans like John and others in similar circumstances across Michigan.

In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, we are joined by Heather Picotte, a communications architect for IMPART Alliance and Age Alive. The conversation, recorded live in Marquette, Michigan, delves into Heather's journey and her profound connection to direct care work, inspired by her mother’s long career in the field.

She also discusses the critical shortage of 36,000 direct-care workers in Michigan, particularly in rural areas like some locations in the Upper Peninsula, and the challenges faced by caregivers, including lack of training, low pay, and limited support.

Heather's dual role with IMPART Alliance and Age Alive involves advocating for direct-care workers and promoting aging-related research and intergenerational programming. She underscores the significance of collaboration and open dialogue to address the complex challenges in the direct care field.