Postcards from Long-Term Care

mikeruderman
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  • Social Sciences

A thoughtful and moving mini-series featuring stories from residents of a Toronto long-term care home. Michael Ruderman's art-research project uses interviewing and environmental audio recording to collaboratively tell residents' stories from long-term care. This mini-series is for anyone who cares to uplift our long-term care residents, strengthen our eldercare system, and listen to those who are rarely heard.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    From Maurice

    You’re about to hear from Maurice. He is 57-years old living with Multiple Sclerosis, which has severely limited his movement. It was a real pleasure spending time with Maurice: we regularly ended our recording sessions watching prestige TV together, which we both really enjoy. Maurice is very passionate about improving healthcare in Canada. After listening back to his postcard, he asked if we would play it for doctors, so that they could hear hard truths that might improve the lives of people living with MS. Now, Maurice had a lot to say and, as he expressed to me, he had very few people, if any, to listen. So, let’s listen carefully to Maurice’s postcard from long-term care. Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  2. 3d ago

    From Jackie

    You’re about to hear from Jackie. She has lived in the home for about 20 years, making her one of the postcard-makers with the most lived experience of long-term care. Jackie had an injury not long before we met, so our conversations all took place with her in bed and me on her chair in her richly decorated room. Jackie is an artist: she wanted to start the work as soon as possible, as she felt it would help with her healing, and she had exciting suggestions during the editing process, making it a true collaboration. A quick clarification note: near the end, Jackie mentions being given a “corner” for writing: this refers to a featured column in the home’s newsletter. You’re in for a journey, from deep despair and fear to the redemptive power of art. Content Warning: medical assistance in dying, hallucinations Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  3. 3d ago

    From Grace

    Before Grace’s residence was a long-term care home, it was another kind of institution. I’m not going to say what specifically to avoid identifying details, but it’s important to note because Grace actually worked and spent a lot of time in this other institution before, years later, coming back to live in the new long-term care home. When speaking with Grace, at times it seemed that her experiences of her long-term care residence were interlaced with these memories of her time in the home’s previous incarnation. As you listen, I want to you consider how experience is entangled with memory, the remarkable power of music, and the importance of coming together. Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  4. 3d ago

    From Charlie

    Charlie is in his 70s, and has spent around two decades in long-term care. Charlie’s comfort with the home was clear: I’d often see him in the lobby hanging out, and he made frequent day trips out of the home. Charlie is always quick to laughter and quick to a joke, making it a joy to spend time with him and record. As you listen, I invite you to consider themes of isolation, the importance of family and humour, and escape. Actor: Nicholas Rice Content Warnings: mental health issues Note: Poor audio quality Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  5. 3d ago

    From Caesar

    This postcard you are about to hear from Caesar does not paint a rosy picture of life in long-term care. In his words: “It’s not all sugar and spice.” In this piece you’ll hear a thoughtful articulation of a struggle: a struggle for inclusion, respect, and personal meaning in long-term care. In his recordings, long-term care experiences are inter-woven with personal memory and meditations on the nature of home. I so appreciated Caesar’s candor and vulnerability, and I think you will too. This is Caesar’s postcard from long-term care.  Trigger Warning: abuse, mental health struggles Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  6. 3d ago

    From Bob

    Of all postcard creators, Bob was the most interested in capturing sounds from the home. We spent multiple sessions recording and discussing everyday sounds, and with the exception of one musical track, this postcard is entirely recorded by me and Bob. I always left spending time with Bob with a smile on my face. Bob is an avowed easy-going optimist. Though, during a lengthy interview, a sound occurred that, according to him, was the one thing that kind of got on his nerves. You’ll know it when you hear it. This is Bob’s postcard from long-term care.   Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  7. 3d ago

    From Basell

    You’re about to hear from Basell. Of our group, she is the only one to have worked in long-term care extensively, giving us a unique perspective. Basell’s sense of humour jumped out to me right away. Her no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point speaking style shines through in this postcard, which traces the path from a chaotic short-term care environment to her current, more peaceful long-term care home. In this story, we can consider how past experience colours how we listen, the importance of family, and the sometimes-hard work of finding empathy for others. Actor: John Maize Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  8. 3d ago

    From Anna

    Conversations with Anna were a real pleasure. I’m sure you’ll sense her warmth and humour throughout this postcard. Anna lives mostly in her bed, except for rare trips outside; you’ll hear more about her health and passions as you listen through. My conversations with Anna led me to reflect on what we can and cannot get used to in a living environment. And maybe more importantly, what we will and will not accept in our home and as our home. Here is Anna’s postcard from long-term care.    Actor: Julia Vescio Transcript here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care.

  9. 4d ago

    Introducing the Project

    Listen for an introduction to the art-research project Postcards from Long-Term Care. Transcript Here! Contact me at ruderman@yorku.ca Subscribe to and share the podcast to amplify these stories and grow our community of people who care about Canadian residential long-term care. Bookmarks: 00:00 Introduction 02:15 About long-term care 05:00 A bit about myself 06:13 The project 09:29 Why sound? 11:41 Final things to keep in mind 13:39 Thank you!

  • 9 Episodes

About

A thoughtful and moving mini-series featuring stories from residents of a Toronto long-term care home. Michael Ruderman's art-research project uses interviewing and environmental audio recording to collaboratively tell residents' stories from long-term care. This mini-series is for anyone who cares to uplift our long-term care residents, strengthen our eldercare system, and listen to those who are rarely heard.

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