Episode 2: Getting Her HomeAfter Hurricane Irma damaged her mother's house in Puerto Rico, Maria had to arrange repairs, restore electricity and water, replace furniture, and keep track of every expense. All while caring for her mother, Margarita, who wanted only one thing: to go home. How much work does it take to get someone home and what happens when going home is no longer possible? In this episode of Narratives of Care: Puerto Rico, host Charlotte Bayala continues the story of Margarita Bermudez Ortega, an independent woman whose family was beginning to recognize changes associated with dementia. Her daughter Maria describes the enormous amount of work involved in rebuilding Margarita's home after Hurricane Irma. There were contractors to find, bills to pay, paperwork to complete, and two binders filled with records. It was caregiving work that extended far beyond helping her mother with everyday needs. Eventually, Margarita returned to her own house. But less than two weeks after Irma, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, damaging her home again. This time, her family faced a different decision. Through the voices of Maria and Iris, this episode explores the often invisible responsibilities of family caregivers, the importance of independence, and what happens when keeping someone safe begins to mean taking them away from the place they most want to be. In This EpisodeThe physical and financial work of rebuilding Margarita's home after Hurricane IrmaHow Maria became responsible for paperwork, expenses, repairs, and caregiving coordinationThe invisible administrative work that often falls to family caregiversMargarita's determination to return to her own homeHow Hurricane Maria changed what her family believed was possibleThe difficult decision to bring Margarita into another family member's home People You'll HearMargarita Bermudez Ortega — The woman at the center of this family's story. Maria Santos Bermudez — Margarita's daughter, who coordinated repairs, expenses, and many responsibilities surrounding her mother's care. Iris Bayala — Margarita's daughter, who describes the family's changing decisions about where her mother could live. Julio Bayala — Iris's husband, whose concern about Margarita living alone helped move the family toward a new caregiving arrangement. His role is described in this episode by Iris. Charlotte Bayala — Creator, host, and narrator of Narratives of Care. The Story in ContextIn September 2017, Puerto Rico experienced two major hurricanes: Irma, followed less than two weeks later by Maria. For Margarita's family, those storms were not only natural disasters. They created additional caregiving responsibilities at a time when the family was already concerned about changes in Margarita's memory and behavior. The work of restoring her home involved repairs, utilities, contractors, finances, and extensive recordkeeping. These responsibilities illustrate an often-overlooked part of caregiving: the administrative and logistical work required to make everyday life possible for someone who needs help. The storms also forced the family to confront a difficult question. When a loved one wants to remain independent, how do you decide when living alone is no longer safe? About Narratives of Care: Puerto RicoNarratives of Care: Puerto Rico is a 12-part narrative podcast series created by Charlotte Bayala. Through oral histories with families navigating dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer, the series explores what caregiving asks of families—and how the place where care happens shapes what becomes possible. These are individual stories, not a definition of caregiving in Puerto Rico. Listen and FollowListen to Narratives of Care on your favorite podcast platform, and follow the series for a new episode every Tuesday. Website: https://charlottebayala.com/narratives-of-care Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/narratives-of-care/id6808407626 Share This StoryKnow someone who has spent hours making phone calls, handling paperwork, managing expenses, or arranging care for a loved one? Share this episode with them. Not all caregiving happens at someone's bedside. Sometimes it happens in the work required to make a home, and a life, possible. CreditsCreated, hosted, and produced by: Charlotte Bayala Music and sound effects: Envato Audio production and editing: Hindenburg Pro
