Report: OR Programs Work to Help Family Caregivers
More people are providing care at home for aging family members or those with disabilities – and a new study says they face mounting financial and emotional challenges in the process.
The report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving finds more than 63 million Americans are now family caregivers, an increase of 20 million from 10 years ago. Nearly half of those surveyed face major financial hardships such as debt, lost income or food insecurity.
Bandana Shrestha, AARP Oregon’s state director, said the work is getting more complex, adding to the stress.
“People are living with many chronic diseases, which may mean that people are managing multiple medications, they may have other medical demands on them,” she said, “and a lot of this is being taken care of by family caregivers.”
Oregon’s 470,000 family caregivers, whom Shrestha calls the “backbone of the state’s long-term care system,” receive better support than most states. She cited policies such as paid family leave and programs such as Oregon Project Independence, which provides limited in-home services.
Alma Valencia is part of the “sandwich generation,” caring for both her children and her aging mother with dementia. Valencia said she left a fashion career and its financial stability to care for her mother full time – and thinks one of the hardest parts is the isolation and stress.
“Caregiving isn’t just a personal matter; it’s a national issue,” she said. “We need paid leave. We need financial relief. We need training. We need time to breathe.”
Shrestha noted that on top of reducing paid work hours, family caregivers spend about $7,200 yearly on medical expenses. She said this is an area where lawmakers could help.
“They are forgoing a retirement savings, Social Security,” she said, “so we have to do something in terms of offsetting those things.”
She said AARP is supporting a bill in Congress focused on providing a tax credit for family caregivers, called the “Credit for Caring Act,” which has more than 50 bipartisan co-sponsors.
Disclosure: AARP Oregon contributes to their fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Health Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families, Senior Issues.
DEMOCRACY NOW! with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez M-F 7-8am and 6-7pm
Sept. 17, 2025. Today’s News Reports. Amy and Juan cover:
“Single Shots to the Head”: U.S. Veteran, Volunteer Surgeon Sees “Extermination of a People” in Gaza
“Perish or Leave”: Hundreds of Thousands Flee as Israeli Military Invades Gaza City
How Video Games, Discord & Deep Web Influenced Alleged Kirk Killer
Trump Uses “Black Criminality” Myth to Take Over Black-Led Cities: Memphis Rep. Justin J. Pearson
Robert Redford the Activist: Hollywood Icon Was Lifelong Champion of Environment & Independent Film
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS__
1rump Threatens ABC Reporter Who Asked About DOJ Criminalizing Free Speech. Trump Files $15 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against New York Times and Penguin Random House
WOMEN’S RADIO HOUR with Patricia Law Wed 5pm
RESISTANCE IN A TIME OF AUTHORITARIANISM
Patricia is in a thoughtful conversation about authoritarianism and what it means, signs of that landscape, how it affects us personally and how it affects the law of the land, our U.S. Constitution. A compelling conversation.
Do you have a story to tell? Leave your comment below.
CIVIC CIPHER with Ramses Ja and Q Ward Wed 4pm
Can you believe it? We are 5 years old this week! In the first half of today’s program, we tall our origin story and discuss why we felt a show like this was important to create and distribute around the country. Our hope is that our story will encourage you in your own social justice endeavors! In the second half of the show, we examine our story since starting Civic Cipher. We have had many ups and downs as a show and as a country and we use this segment to reflect on all of it—and also invoke a bit of optimism for the future!
Civic Cipher is a nationally syndicated radio show and podcast hosted by Q Ward and Ramses Ja. The program was created to foster allyship, empathy, and understanding, and bolster social justice efforts in hopes of creating a more equitable society for all. This show seeks to directly engage with diverse populations across the country.
Set in motion in early 2020 by the violent and egregious murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, Civic Cipher was created as a response to a desperate call to action, and an urgent need for change.
Civic Cipher is intentionally, curated to be an invaluable, and timeless, resource for everyone. These conversations serve non-POC allies (as well as POC) who may not otherwise be privy to these types of discussions, perspectives, and optics.
Providing long-form, engaging, data-driven conversations that easily fit in ALL spaces across personal, academic, and professional realms, Civic Cipher excellently packages and delivers purposeful, educational, and relevant material and warmly welcomes audiences across all demographics.
Ramses Ja is an award-winning broadcasting professional with a career spanning over two decades on radio and television stations across the country. Being a celebrated DJ and media personality, Ramses has been featured on many billboards, magazine covers, newspaper articles, and naturally radio and television. Ramses has always taken this notoriety and used it to inspire Black and Brown youth. As a former president of his college’s Black Student Union, this has been central to his efforts his whole career. Ramses has gone on to win media and activist awards from several prestigious institutions including the NAACP and The Black Philanthropy Initiative. Currently, Ramses hosts Civic Cipher with Q Ward. Additionally Ramses hosts The Black Information Network Daily Podcast where he interviews Black journalists around the country to gain more insight into national news stories. The Black Information Network Daily Podcast is found on the Black Information Network—a subsidiary of iHeartmedia. @ramsesja
Q Ward is a 15+ year DJ and broadcast veteran. The Detroit native has
spent over 20 yrs in the entertainment space spanning several different
roles in and around professional sports, film, television, music and
philanthropy. He’s had a very diversified life and career having lived
and worked in 4 countries, on 3 continents and in over a dozen cities. Q
is the former in-arena DJ for the Phoenix Suns, a manager for
creatives, a BMI-published songwriter, co-host of Civic Cipher (a
one-hour talk radio show currently broadcasting on over 100 stations
nationwide), co-host of iHeartmedia’s Black Information Network Daily
Podcast, and currently owns the media imprint Hip Hop Weekly. @iamqward
TALK OF THE TOWN with Mike Aguirre Wed 1pm
WHAT ARE WE FACING WITH THE CURRENT LOOK AT SOCIAL SECURITY AND CUTS TO PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS? HOW ARE CHILDREN AFFECTED?
Mike and his guest are in an in-depth conversation about the origin and reason for social security and other programs that help support all of us.
THOM HARTMANN IN SAN DIEGO
BOOK TOUR AND KNSJ FUNDRAISER
OCTOBER 17, 5-9 PM
THE COLUMBUS CLUB, 4425 HOME AVENUE, SAN DIEGO 92105
Thom Hartmann is a progressive national and internationally syndicated talk show host whose shows are available in over a half-billion homes worldwide. He’s the New York Times bestselling, 4-times Project Censored Award-winning author of 24 books in print in 17 languages on five continents. Leonardo DiCaprio was inspired by Thom’s book “The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight” to make the movie “The 11th Hour” (in which Thom appears), and the movie “Ice On Fire.”
Talkers Magazine named Thom Hartmann as the 10th most important talk show host in America in 2019 and has been in the top ten for over a decade and is the #1 most important progressive host, in their “Heavy Hundred” ranking.
FRIENDLY FIRE LIVE with Don Kimball Sat 2pm
A Show For and About Veterans
Call in with your comments and questions 619-790-KNSJ (5675)
With GARY BUTTERFIELD, Past President of Veterans for Peace
Don and Gary are in conversation about pollution, military contribution to the climate crisis, air shows, militarism and more. Be part of the conversation. Call in to talk to Don and his guest. Did you know the US military is the largest consumer of fossil fuels? How much of our taxes go to the military? Has Congress received an audit of the military budget?
TALK OF THE TOWN with Mike Aguirre LIVE Sat 11am-Noon
Mike’s guest is DAVID SWARENS, Vice President of SOHO (Save Our Heritage Oganisation)
Mike and David are in conversation about SB79
– David Swarens is a staunch preservationist, longtime SOHO Board Member and twice two-term president of the organization. David sits on the Preservation Action committee, where he is part of the negotiating team that meets with developers and other agencies, the Events and Education committee, and is a member of the Preservation Advisory Group (P.A.G.) which implemented the landmark preservation agreement with the San Diego Padres Ballpark redevelopment project.
– As a member of Los Californios, David is involved in interpreting early California history with California music of the 19th Century at historic sites and museums throughout the state. He serves on his community planning group, Golden HIll, and has served on the Enterprise Community Governance Board, and the Sherman Heights Revitalization Team..
______ABOUT SOHO
Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) is San Diego County’s leading preservation nonprofit, founded in 1969 to save the 1887 Sherman-Gilbert House. Over more than 50 years, SOHO has grown into one of the largest and most respected preservation groups in the nation. Based in Balboa Park, SOHO manages historic sites across the county and advocates for the protection of San Diego’s architectural and cultural heritage. Its work includes proactive and responsive advocacy, legal action when necessary, and public education through exhibitions, tours, and events. SOHO has played a key role in preserving nearly every iconic building and historic neighborhood in the region, making preservation a part of public policy and urban planning.
FRIENDLY FIRE with Don Kimball Sat 2pm
On today’s show hear the recent shocking details unconvered by Army veteran Julie Akey and by Pat Elder of MilitaryPoisions.org. Shocking amounts of numerous poisons were discovered on Ft. Ord that have caused cancer! Many that were stationed there like Julie developed cancer because they were unknownily exposed to TCE, Agent Orange and other VOC’s on the base.