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.

In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, we are joined by Tam Cordes, the course coordinator and training program developer at IMPART Alliance. Tam shares her extensive background in training, including her roles as an instructor at the American Red Cross, and an abuse prevention trainer.

She discusses how these experiences have shaped her current work at IMPART Alliance, where she coordinates comprehensive training programs for direct care workers. Tam also highlights the structure and content of the IMPART Alliance’s training courses, which are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of caregivers, ensuring they provide the best possible care.

On this month’s podcast episode, we are joined by IMPART Alliance’s director, Clare Luz, Ph.D. Clare shares her journey from being a direct care worker until co-founding IMPART Alliance as well as exciting developments in the organization such as the mini-grant request for proposals and other achievements on behalf of the workforce.

On our second podcast episode, we are joined by IMPART Alliance’s assistant director, Bethany Duyser, DNP, RN, AGPCNP.

Bethany shares her journey from being an intern at IMPART Alliance during her doctorate studies to her current role as assistant director. She discusses her background as a registered nurse and adult gerontological primary care nurse practitioner and how it has influenced her work at IMPART Alliance.

In this discussion, Bethany also highlights the intersectionality of health professions and how they must work together to deliver the best care and support, as well as the challenges and opportunities in improving direct care worker jobs and workforce development.

On today's episode, we are joined by Eric Paad, founder and president of the Caregiver Incentive Project, and Dorothy Paad, an award-winning author, motivational speaker, mentor, and advocate. Dorothy and Eric are a father-daughter duo who have dedicated their lives to improving caregiving for both professionals and those they support.

In Eric’s words, “Our whole mission in life is to improve the lives of those being cared for by supporting the caregiver. When the caregiver is trained, supported, properly cared for, and cherished as a frontline worker, they will do a better job of caring for those in need."