KQED’s health coverage spans daily news to deep-dive stories from the Bay Area and beyond. We cover policy, health trends and the issues that show up in your life and at your doctor appointments.
Moss Landing Power Plant Fire Triggers Shelter-in-Place Warnings, Highway 1 Impacted
California Regulators Unveil Plan to Ban New Quartz Countertops Amid Rising Worker Deaths
California Could Join Handful of States That Cover Cancer Hair-Loss Treatment
This Bay Area Immigrant Rights Organization Is Helping Filipino Caregivers Care for Themselves
Cancer Research Saved This Berkeley Resident. Its Future May Depend on Trump
California Joins Suit Over Trump Rule Making It Harder for Immigrants to Get Green Cards
How Trump’s Immigration Policies Can Leave Doctors Feeling Powerless
Yes, Bay Area Bats Have Rabies. How Real Are Your Risks?
A New COVID Vaccine Is Here (Without Much Fanfare). When Should You Get It?
Medi-Cal Won’t Pay for Assisted Living in Most of California. One Brother Fought Back
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/monterey-county\">Monterey County\u003c/a> has issued shelter-in-place warnings after a blaze erupted Friday morning at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/moss-landing\">Moss Landing\u003c/a> Power Plant.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to a joint release from the county’s emergency warning center and the North County Fire Protection District, firefighters responded to the plant at Cabrillo Highway and Dolan Road just after 6:15 a.m., in response to a reported structure fire.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The statement also said that the fire is burning within an “existing structure that sustained significant damage” during the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022725/massive-fire-monterey-county-battery-plant-spews-toxic-smoke-forces-evacuations\">January 2025 Vistra battery fire\u003c/a>. It said the batteries involved in Friday’s blaze sustained previous damage in that incident.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, the current fire is “not comparable to the January 2025 fire in terms of its scale or complexity,” the statement clarifies. It said officials expect the fire to burn itself out over the next 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shelter-in-place orders have been issued for the surrounding areas and the North Monterey County School District, as the county’s emergency management department coordinates with local, state and federal agencies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Traffic on Highway 1 in the Moss Landing area is impacted, according to the statement, and motorists have been asked to avoid the area to allow emergency crews access.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The joint release added that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has air monitors operating in the area, with fire personnel using drones to “assess conditions and gather information.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The county plans to hold a briefing today to provide updates on the status of the blaze. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a developing story and will be updated.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/monterey-county\">Monterey County\u003c/a> has issued shelter-in-place warnings after a blaze erupted Friday morning at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/moss-landing\">Moss Landing\u003c/a> Power Plant.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to a joint release from the county’s emergency warning center and the North County Fire Protection District, firefighters responded to the plant at Cabrillo Highway and Dolan Road just after 6:15 a.m., in response to a reported structure fire.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The statement also said that the fire is burning within an “existing structure that sustained significant damage” during the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022725/massive-fire-monterey-county-battery-plant-spews-toxic-smoke-forces-evacuations\">January 2025 Vistra battery fire\u003c/a>. It said the batteries involved in Friday’s blaze sustained previous damage in that incident.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, the current fire is “not comparable to the January 2025 fire in terms of its scale or complexity,” the statement clarifies. It said officials expect the fire to burn itself out over the next 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shelter-in-place orders have been issued for the surrounding areas and the North Monterey County School District, as the county’s emergency management department coordinates with local, state and federal agencies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Traffic on Highway 1 in the Moss Landing area is impacted, according to the statement, and motorists have been asked to avoid the area to allow emergency crews access.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The joint release added that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has air monitors operating in the area, with fire personnel using drones to “assess conditions and gather information.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The county plans to hold a briefing today to provide updates on the status of the blaze. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a developing story and will be updated.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-regulators-unveil-plan-to-ban-new-quartz-countertops-amid-rising-worker-deaths",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> workplace regulators pushing to ban the use of a popular countertop material linked to a deadly lung disease released a proposed roadmap, the nation’s first, on Wednesday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/doshreg/silica-2026/\">discussion draft\u003c/a> would give fabrication shops nearly six months from the date a final rule goes into effect to phase out their use of artificial stone with more than 1% crystalline silica, common in kitchen and bathroom countertops and other construction surfaces.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The factory-made slabs, also known as quartz or engineered stone, release ultratoxic silica particles that have sickened more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/Pages/essdashboard.aspx\">650 stoneworkers\u003c/a> who inhaled them while cutting or polishing the material, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dozens of Latino men, often immigrants who didn’t know about the dangers of handling engineered stone until they got sick, have undergone lung transplants or died from silicosis since 2019. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA officials estimate that without a prohibition about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084910/california-steps-closer-to-ban-on-engineered-stone-after-silicosis-surge\">1,000 more silicosis cases\u003c/a> will develop over the next two years in California, the only state actively tracking the disease in the multibillion-dollar industry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A man's hand is seen resting on a table.\" class=\"wp-image-11969878\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jorge Moreno places his hand on a table that he cut at his home in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2023. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will look back at Cal/OSHA’s emergency standard as the beginning of the end of this terrible quartz countertop silicosis epidemic,” said David Michaels, a former head of federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration who teaches at the George Washington University School of Public Health\u003cem>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Consumers prefer quartz to lower-silica natural stones because it’s cheaper, stain-resistant and designed in attractive palettes. But its skyrocketing popularity has coincided with a deadly silicosis trail among stoneworkers in countries like Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia, which became the first to prohibit the material’s import, supply and fabrication in 2024. Australia’s ban triggered cost increases and supply-chain delays in the construction industry, according to some reports, but warnings that residential and commercial development would collapse have not proven to be true. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some large manufacturers developed alternatives made with amorphous silica, which is considered safer for stonecutters. Public health experts like Michaels believe that California’s proposed ban would encourage more big-box stores, designers and consumers to opt for safer alternatives for the workers who shape and install countertops.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Banning fabrication and installation of artificial stone products in California is the first step in stopping this deadly work nationally,” Michaels said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The public has until Sept. 30 to comment on Cal/OSHA’s draft regulation before the agency can submit it to an occupational safety board for final approval, a process that could take months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the draft emergency regulation, fabrication shops would be required to notify workers in English and Spanish that engineered stone with crystalline silica is dangerous and prohibited. Cal/OSHA inspectors could halt operations at businesses that work on this material after a two-month grace period. Employers would have 180 days to use up inventory they already purchased or contracted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some employers worry they’ll need more time to adjust, as artificial stone makes up a majority of their business. A countertop sold today may be installed four to eight months from now, said Laurie Weber, who heads the International Surface Fabricators Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the prohibition reaches repair work, warranty work, remnants and material already in distribution, then 180 days isn’t a wind-down period, it’s a cliff,” wrote Weber in an e-mail. “Slabs already ordered and in transit aren’t in anyone’s shop yet, and no one has said who absorbs that cost.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Industry representatives have pointed out that banning artificial stone could raise prices for building and remodeling, and add expenses for fabrication shop owners who have already \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079653/california-fabricators-face-artificial-stone-ban-as-silicosis-cases-mount\">spent heavily\u003c/a> to protect their workers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084039\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eleazar Resendiz Cortes’ wife shows scans of his chest that revealed particles around his lungs linked to his silicosis diagnosis, in their home in Bakersfield, California, on May 14, 2026. (Julie Leopo for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nate Kolenski, president of Black Tops Countertop Surfaces in Sacramento, told Cal/OSHA staffers at a July public meeting that his company has two years’ worth of inventory already stockpiled, valued at $1 million or less. He said the state should consider a buy-back program, akin to those related to guns, to minimize financial losses.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the state wants to ban this product, they should be buying back our inventory because we’ll have no use for it. It will be worthless, and thousands of fabricators will have the same situation with inventory and capital that’s sitting out there that they won’t get,” said Kolenski, who opposes a prohibition. “Plus we’ll have to buy the new product.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s plan comes as major manufacturers of high-silica quartz have pushed for a bill in Congress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069714/as-california-silicosis-cases-rise-engineered-stone-industry-seeks-immunity-in-dc\">would dismiss hundreds\u003c/a> of lawsuits against them by sick stoneworkers seeking damages. Most of the handful of cases that have reached trial resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts for workers or their families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The largest U.S. manufacturer, Cambria, fought efforts by worker advocates and doctors to get California to take steps toward a prohibition, maintaining that their products can be handled safely if the proper precautions are followed. But growing evidence shows that the dust generated when cutting or polishing artificial stone is so toxic that it can sicken people at sophisticated fabrication shops following Cal/OSHA’s current rules, which prohibit dry cutting of the material and require advanced respiratory protection. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A representative for Cambria did not immediately return a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> workplace regulators pushing to ban the use of a popular countertop material linked to a deadly lung disease released a proposed roadmap, the nation’s first, on Wednesday. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> workplace regulators pushing to ban the use of a popular countertop material linked to a deadly lung disease released a proposed roadmap, the nation’s first, on Wednesday. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/doshreg/silica-2026/\">discussion draft\u003c/a> would give fabrication shops nearly six months from the date a final rule goes into effect to phase out their use of artificial stone with more than 1% crystalline silica, common in kitchen and bathroom countertops and other construction surfaces.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/doshreg/silica-2026/\">discussion draft\u003c/a> would give fabrication shops nearly six months from the date a final rule goes into effect to phase out their use of artificial stone with more than 1% crystalline silica, common in kitchen and bathroom countertops and other construction surfaces.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The factory-made slabs, also known as quartz or engineered stone, release ultratoxic silica particles that have sickened more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/Pages/essdashboard.aspx\">650 stoneworkers\u003c/a> who inhaled them while cutting or polishing the material, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The factory-made slabs, also known as quartz or engineered stone, release ultratoxic silica particles that have sickened more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/Pages/essdashboard.aspx\">650 stoneworkers\u003c/a> who inhaled them while cutting or polishing the material, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dozens of Latino men, often immigrants who didn’t know about the dangers of handling engineered stone until they got sick, have undergone lung transplants or died from silicosis since 2019. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dozens of Latino men, often immigrants who didn’t know about the dangers of handling engineered stone until they got sick, have undergone lung transplants or died from silicosis since 2019. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA officials estimate that without a prohibition about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084910/california-steps-closer-to-ban-on-engineered-stone-after-silicosis-surge\">1,000 more silicosis cases\u003c/a> will develop over the next two years in California, the only state actively tracking the disease in the multibillion-dollar industry.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA officials estimate that without a prohibition about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084910/california-steps-closer-to-ban-on-engineered-stone-after-silicosis-surge\">1,000 more silicosis cases\u003c/a> will develop over the next two years in California, the only state actively tracking the disease in the multibillion-dollar industry.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A man's hand is seen resting on a table.\" class=\"wp-image-11969878\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jorge Moreno places his hand on a table that he cut at his home in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A man's hand is seen resting on a table.\" class=\"wp-image-11969878\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jorge Moreno places his hand on a table that he cut at his home in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will look back at Cal/OSHA’s emergency standard as the beginning of the end of this terrible quartz countertop silicosis epidemic,” said David Michaels, a former head of federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration who teaches at the George Washington University School of Public Health\u003cem>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will look back at Cal/OSHA’s emergency standard as the beginning of the end of this terrible quartz countertop silicosis epidemic,” said David Michaels, a former head of federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration who teaches at the George Washington University School of Public Health\u003cem>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Consumers prefer quartz to lower-silica natural stones because it’s cheaper, stain-resistant and designed in attractive palettes. But its skyrocketing popularity has coincided with a deadly silicosis trail among stoneworkers in countries like Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia, which became the first to prohibit the material’s import, supply and fabrication in 2024. Australia’s ban triggered cost increases and supply-chain delays in the construction industry, according to some reports, but warnings that residential and commercial development would collapse have not proven to be true. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Consumers prefer quartz to lower-silica natural stones because it’s cheaper, stain-resistant and designed in attractive palettes. But its skyrocketing popularity has coincided with a deadly silicosis trail among stoneworkers in countries like Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia, which became the first to prohibit the material’s import, supply and fabrication in 2024. Australia’s ban triggered cost increases and supply-chain delays in the construction industry, according to some reports, but warnings that residential and commercial development would collapse have not proven to be true. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some large manufacturers developed alternatives made with amorphous silica, which is considered safer for stonecutters. Public health experts like Michaels believe that California’s proposed ban would encourage more big-box stores, designers and consumers to opt for safer alternatives for the workers who shape and install countertops.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some large manufacturers developed alternatives made with amorphous silica, which is considered safer for stonecutters. Public health experts like Michaels believe that California’s proposed ban would encourage more big-box stores, designers and consumers to opt for safer alternatives for the workers who shape and install countertops.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Banning fabrication and installation of artificial stone products in California is the first step in stopping this deadly work nationally,” Michaels said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Banning fabrication and installation of artificial stone products in California is the first step in stopping this deadly work nationally,” Michaels said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The public has until Sept. 30 to comment on Cal/OSHA’s draft regulation before the agency can submit it to an occupational safety board for final approval, a process that could take months. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The public has until Sept. 30 to comment on Cal/OSHA’s draft regulation before the agency can submit it to an occupational safety board for final approval, a process that could take months. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Under the draft emergency regulation, fabrication shops would be required to notify workers in English and Spanish that engineered stone with crystalline silica is dangerous and prohibited. Cal/OSHA inspectors could halt operations at businesses that work on this material after a two-month grace period. Employers would have 180 days to use up inventory they already purchased or contracted.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Under the draft emergency regulation, fabrication shops would be required to notify workers in English and Spanish that engineered stone with crystalline silica is dangerous and prohibited. Cal/OSHA inspectors could halt operations at businesses that work on this material after a two-month grace period. Employers would have 180 days to use up inventory they already purchased or contracted.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some employers worry they’ll need more time to adjust, as artificial stone makes up a majority of their business. A countertop sold today may be installed four to eight months from now, said Laurie Weber, who heads the International Surface Fabricators Association.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some employers worry they’ll need more time to adjust, as artificial stone makes up a majority of their business. A countertop sold today may be installed four to eight months from now, said Laurie Weber, who heads the International Surface Fabricators Association.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If the prohibition reaches repair work, warranty work, remnants and material already in distribution, then 180 days isn’t a wind-down period, it’s a cliff,” wrote Weber in an e-mail. “Slabs already ordered and in transit aren’t in anyone’s shop yet, and no one has said who absorbs that cost.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If the prohibition reaches repair work, warranty work, remnants and material already in distribution, then 180 days isn’t a wind-down period, it’s a cliff,” wrote Weber in an e-mail. “Slabs already ordered and in transit aren’t in anyone’s shop yet, and no one has said who absorbs that cost.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Industry representatives have pointed out that banning artificial stone could raise prices for building and remodeling, and add expenses for fabrication shop owners who have already \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079653/california-fabricators-face-artificial-stone-ban-as-silicosis-cases-mount\">spent heavily\u003c/a> to protect their workers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Industry representatives have pointed out that banning artificial stone could raise prices for building and remodeling, and add expenses for fabrication shop owners who have already \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079653/california-fabricators-face-artificial-stone-ban-as-silicosis-cases-mount\">spent heavily\u003c/a> to protect their workers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084039\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eleazar Resendiz Cortes’ wife shows scans of his chest that revealed particles around his lungs linked to his silicosis diagnosis, in their home in Bakersfield, California, on May 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Julie Leopo for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084039\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eleazar Resendiz Cortes’ wife shows scans of his chest that revealed particles around his lungs linked to his silicosis diagnosis, in their home in Bakersfield, California, on May 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Julie Leopo for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nate Kolenski, president of Black Tops Countertop Surfaces in Sacramento, told Cal/OSHA staffers at a July public meeting that his company has two years’ worth of inventory already stockpiled, valued at $1 million or less. He said the state should consider a buy-back program, akin to those related to guns, to minimize financial losses.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nate Kolenski, president of Black Tops Countertop Surfaces in Sacramento, told Cal/OSHA staffers at a July public meeting that his company has two years’ worth of inventory already stockpiled, valued at $1 million or less. He said the state should consider a buy-back program, akin to those related to guns, to minimize financial losses.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If the state wants to ban this product, they should be buying back our inventory because we’ll have no use for it. It will be worthless, and thousands of fabricators will have the same situation with inventory and capital that’s sitting out there that they won’t get,” said Kolenski, who opposes a prohibition. “Plus we’ll have to buy the new product.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If the state wants to ban this product, they should be buying back our inventory because we’ll have no use for it. It will be worthless, and thousands of fabricators will have the same situation with inventory and capital that’s sitting out there that they won’t get,” said Kolenski, who opposes a prohibition. “Plus we’ll have to buy the new product.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state’s plan comes as major manufacturers of high-silica quartz have pushed for a bill in Congress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069714/as-california-silicosis-cases-rise-engineered-stone-industry-seeks-immunity-in-dc\">would dismiss hundreds\u003c/a> of lawsuits against them by sick stoneworkers seeking damages. Most of the handful of cases that have reached trial resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts for workers or their families.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state’s plan comes as major manufacturers of high-silica quartz have pushed for a bill in Congress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069714/as-california-silicosis-cases-rise-engineered-stone-industry-seeks-immunity-in-dc\">would dismiss hundreds\u003c/a> of lawsuits against them by sick stoneworkers seeking damages. Most of the handful of cases that have reached trial resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts for workers or their families.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The largest U.S. manufacturer, Cambria, fought efforts by worker advocates and doctors to get California to take steps toward a prohibition, maintaining that their products can be handled safely if the proper precautions are followed. But growing evidence shows that the dust generated when cutting or polishing artificial stone is so toxic that it can sicken people at sophisticated fabrication shops following Cal/OSHA’s current rules, which prohibit dry cutting of the material and require advanced respiratory protection. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The largest U.S. manufacturer, Cambria, fought efforts by worker advocates and doctors to get California to take steps toward a prohibition, maintaining that their products can be handled safely if the proper precautions are followed. But growing evidence shows that the dust generated when cutting or polishing artificial stone is so toxic that it can sicken people at sophisticated fabrication shops following Cal/OSHA’s current rules, which prohibit dry cutting of the material and require advanced respiratory protection. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A representative for Cambria did not immediately return a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Cal/OSHA draft would give fabrication shops nearly six months to phase out inventory of the popular countertop material, which is linked to a deadly lung disease among stonecutters. ",
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"title": "California Regulators Unveil Plan to Ban New Quartz Countertops Amid Rising Worker Deaths | KQED",
"description": "The Cal/OSHA draft would give fabrication shops nearly six months to phase out inventory of the popular countertop material, which is linked to a deadly lung disease among stonecutters. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> workplace regulators pushing to ban the use of a popular countertop material linked to a deadly lung disease released a proposed roadmap, the nation’s first, on Wednesday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/doshreg/silica-2026/\">discussion draft\u003c/a> would give fabrication shops nearly six months from the date a final rule goes into effect to phase out their use of artificial stone with more than 1% crystalline silica, common in kitchen and bathroom countertops and other construction surfaces.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The factory-made slabs, also known as quartz or engineered stone, release ultratoxic silica particles that have sickened more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/Pages/essdashboard.aspx\">650 stoneworkers\u003c/a> who inhaled them while cutting or polishing the material, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dozens of Latino men, often immigrants who didn’t know about the dangers of handling engineered stone until they got sick, have undergone lung transplants or died from silicosis since 2019. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cal/OSHA officials estimate that without a prohibition about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084910/california-steps-closer-to-ban-on-engineered-stone-after-silicosis-surge\">1,000 more silicosis cases\u003c/a> will develop over the next two years in California, the only state actively tracking the disease in the multibillion-dollar industry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A man's hand is seen resting on a table.\" class=\"wp-image-11969878\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231017-StonecutterSilicosis-002-BL-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jorge Moreno places his hand on a table that he cut at his home in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2023. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will look back at Cal/OSHA’s emergency standard as the beginning of the end of this terrible quartz countertop silicosis epidemic,” said David Michaels, a former head of federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration who teaches at the George Washington University School of Public Health\u003cem>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Consumers prefer quartz to lower-silica natural stones because it’s cheaper, stain-resistant and designed in attractive palettes. But its skyrocketing popularity has coincided with a deadly silicosis trail among stoneworkers in countries like Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia, which became the first to prohibit the material’s import, supply and fabrication in 2024. Australia’s ban triggered cost increases and supply-chain delays in the construction industry, according to some reports, but warnings that residential and commercial development would collapse have not proven to be true. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some large manufacturers developed alternatives made with amorphous silica, which is considered safer for stonecutters. Public health experts like Michaels believe that California’s proposed ban would encourage more big-box stores, designers and consumers to opt for safer alternatives for the workers who shape and install countertops.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Banning fabrication and installation of artificial stone products in California is the first step in stopping this deadly work nationally,” Michaels said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The public has until Sept. 30 to comment on Cal/OSHA’s draft regulation before the agency can submit it to an occupational safety board for final approval, a process that could take months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the draft emergency regulation, fabrication shops would be required to notify workers in English and Spanish that engineered stone with crystalline silica is dangerous and prohibited. Cal/OSHA inspectors could halt operations at businesses that work on this material after a two-month grace period. Employers would have 180 days to use up inventory they already purchased or contracted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some employers worry they’ll need more time to adjust, as artificial stone makes up a majority of their business. A countertop sold today may be installed four to eight months from now, said Laurie Weber, who heads the International Surface Fabricators Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the prohibition reaches repair work, warranty work, remnants and material already in distribution, then 180 days isn’t a wind-down period, it’s a cliff,” wrote Weber in an e-mail. “Slabs already ordered and in transit aren’t in anyone’s shop yet, and no one has said who absorbs that cost.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Industry representatives have pointed out that banning artificial stone could raise prices for building and remodeling, and add expenses for fabrication shop owners who have already \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079653/california-fabricators-face-artificial-stone-ban-as-silicosis-cases-mount\">spent heavily\u003c/a> to protect their workers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084039\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/ELEAZAR-RESENDIZ-CORTES-KQED-LEOPO-2026-1289-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eleazar Resendiz Cortes’ wife shows scans of his chest that revealed particles around his lungs linked to his silicosis diagnosis, in their home in Bakersfield, California, on May 14, 2026. (Julie Leopo for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nate Kolenski, president of Black Tops Countertop Surfaces in Sacramento, told Cal/OSHA staffers at a July public meeting that his company has two years’ worth of inventory already stockpiled, valued at $1 million or less. He said the state should consider a buy-back program, akin to those related to guns, to minimize financial losses.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the state wants to ban this product, they should be buying back our inventory because we’ll have no use for it. It will be worthless, and thousands of fabricators will have the same situation with inventory and capital that’s sitting out there that they won’t get,” said Kolenski, who opposes a prohibition. “Plus we’ll have to buy the new product.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s plan comes as major manufacturers of high-silica quartz have pushed for a bill in Congress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069714/as-california-silicosis-cases-rise-engineered-stone-industry-seeks-immunity-in-dc\">would dismiss hundreds\u003c/a> of lawsuits against them by sick stoneworkers seeking damages. Most of the handful of cases that have reached trial resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts for workers or their families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The largest U.S. manufacturer, Cambria, fought efforts by worker advocates and doctors to get California to take steps toward a prohibition, maintaining that their products can be handled safely if the proper precautions are followed. But growing evidence shows that the dust generated when cutting or polishing artificial stone is so toxic that it can sicken people at sophisticated fabrication shops following Cal/OSHA’s current rules, which prohibit dry cutting of the material and require advanced respiratory protection. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A representative for Cambria did not immediately return a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-could-join-handful-of-states-that-cover-cancer-hair-loss-treatment",
"title": "California Could Join Handful of States That Cover Cancer Hair-Loss Treatment",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> mom Anna Karrer Manley remembers one of the hardest conversations she had two years ago.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She was 45 and had recently learned about her breast cancer diagnosis. She needed to share the news with her two kids, then ages 6 and 11, to prepare them for her battle with the disease — six rounds of chemotherapy and their most recognizable side effect, hair loss. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My son had just started a new school in sixth grade, and he sheepishly asked me, ‘So, Mom, are you still gonna come to pick up?’” Karrer Manley said. “[My daughter] just cried because she didn’t want Mommy to change\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Soon after her diagnosis, Karrer Manley joined a breast cancer patient support group, \u003ca href=\"https://bayareayoungsurvivors.org/\">Bay Area Young Survivors\u003c/a>, where she learned about scalp cooling, an FDA-cleared treatment that helps patients keep their hair through cooling caps, which can be worn before, during and after chemotherapy infusions. The technology helps restrict blood flow and reduce the amount of medication that reaches the hair follicles. The vast majority of people who use scalp cooling, like Karrer Manley, are battling breast cancer, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.e18739\">research\u003c/a> presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2021. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099645\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ines (from left), Stacey Manley, Etienne, Anna Karrer Manley, and their chemo puppy, Asa, at their home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099642\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099642\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley shows strands of her hair that grew back darker and curlier after falling out during chemotherapy. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099641\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099641\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley holds a photo of herself wearing a cold cap at her home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The technology wasn’t covered through insurance, but Karrer Manley said she and her husband scraped around $5,000 to pay for the treatment. (She returned to work part time during treatment.) The cooling caps allowed her to keep 70% of her hair, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Her vibrant complexion and beyond-shoulder-length hair belie the difficult journey of survival — and advocacy — she’s undertaken. Karrer Manley has since joined survivors, medical professionals and public health advocates calling for the passage of \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1682\">AB 1682\u003c/a>, which is currently on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, that aims to make automated mechanical scalp-cooling devices more accessible, beginning in 2027.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To move about the world during chemo treatment with your hair and not everybody realizing what’s going on with you or staring at you, I think that’s really meaningful and important, and it has such an impact on your mental health,” said Karrer Manley, sitting at her dining room table alongside Asa, the “chemo puppy” she adopted for treatment support. “You know, cancer takes so much from you, it really robs so much of you, but at least I had a little bit of hair.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At a June \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1682\">hearing\u003c/a> in Sacramento, the bill’s co-author Assemblymember Gregg Hart of Santa Barbara said the measure – which resembles \u003ca href=\"https://rapunzelproject.org/\">similar\u003c/a> laws in five states (Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, New York and West Virginia) — would preserve “dignity, confidence and quality of life” for Californians fighting cancer, regardless of their ability to pay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The amended proposal — which state legislators passed unanimously — applies to large group insurers and Medi-Cal plans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, the California Health Benefits Review Program, a nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.chbrp.org/about\">group\u003c/a> tasked with responding to the state Legislature’s request for independent review of all proposed bills related to health benefits, reviewed an earlier, broader draft of AB 1682. The original legislation would have applied to \u003cem>all\u003c/em> state-regulated health insurance, but would have resulted in 680 additional enrollees receiving scalp cooling, for an additional $4 million in annual premiums paid by employers and enrollees.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Janet Coffman, a member of the benefits review program and a health policy expert with UCSF, said the technology has a relatively small fiscal impact (unlike, for example, proposed insurance \u003ca href=\"https://abcnews.com/GMA/Wellness/halle-berry-criticizes-gov-gavin-newsom-devaluing-women/story?id=128104843\">mandates\u003c/a> for pre- and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy that Newsom vetoed in 2025, calling it “too far-reaching”).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s only for people who are actively undergoing cancer treatment. And they’re really only used with a subset of cancers,” Coffman said. “The marginal cost is pretty small.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099646\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley (center) with her children Etienne (left) and Ines (right) at their home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099647\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099647\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley walks her dog, Asa, whom she got while she was undergoing chemotherapy, near her home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099639\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099639\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cookbooks, including The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery, in Anna Karrer Manley’s home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The insurance lobby group California Association of Health Plans has opposed the measure, arguing that Californians are facing a health care affordability crisis, citing a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">health tax redesign\u003c/a> recently approved by the governor that the California Medical Association, a physician advocacy group, has \u003ca href=\"https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/cma-warns-2026-27-state-budget-will-increase-health-insurance-costs\">warned\u003c/a> could pass through to consumers in the form of higher premiums.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“At the same time, six additional health care mandates, including AB 1682, have been sent to the governor for his signature that will altogether increase premiums by more than $170 million, piling on even more health care costs for working families across the state,” the CAHP said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The governor’s office declined to comment on bills pending action from Newsom by a Sept. 30 deadline. He is no stranger to the disease, as he has previously \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/04/gavin-newsom-assisted-suicide\">spoken\u003c/a> about being with his mother during her assisted suicide in 2002 after her yearslong battle with breast cancer.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Karrer Manley hopes that he will advocate for supportive cancer care for people who otherwise cannot afford it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are just too many people impacted by cancer, and yet the fiscal impact is so small,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> mom Anna Karrer Manley remembers one of the hardest conversations she had two years ago.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She was 45 and had recently learned about her breast cancer diagnosis. She needed to share the news with her two kids, then ages 6 and 11, to prepare them for her battle with the disease — six rounds of chemotherapy and their most recognizable side effect, hair loss. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“My son had just started a new school in sixth grade, and he sheepishly asked me, ‘So, Mom, are you still gonna come to pick up?’” Karrer Manley said. “[My daughter] just cried because she didn’t want Mommy to change\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Soon after her diagnosis, Karrer Manley joined a breast cancer patient support group, \u003ca href=\"https://bayareayoungsurvivors.org/\">Bay Area Young Survivors\u003c/a>, where she learned about scalp cooling, an FDA-cleared treatment that helps patients keep their hair through cooling caps, which can be worn before, during and after chemotherapy infusions. The technology helps restrict blood flow and reduce the amount of medication that reaches the hair follicles. The vast majority of people who use scalp cooling, like Karrer Manley, are battling breast cancer, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.e18739\">research\u003c/a> presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2021. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The technology wasn’t covered through insurance, but Karrer Manley said she and her husband scraped around $5,000 to pay for the treatment. (She returned to work part time during treatment.) The cooling caps allowed her to keep 70% of her hair, she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The technology wasn’t covered through insurance, but Karrer Manley said she and her husband scraped around $5,000 to pay for the treatment. (She returned to work part time during treatment.) The cooling caps allowed her to keep 70% of her hair, she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Her vibrant complexion and beyond-shoulder-length hair belie the difficult journey of survival — and advocacy — she’s undertaken. Karrer Manley has since joined survivors, medical professionals and public health advocates calling for the passage of \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1682\">AB 1682\u003c/a>, which is currently on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, that aims to make automated mechanical scalp-cooling devices more accessible, beginning in 2027.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Her vibrant complexion and beyond-shoulder-length hair belie the difficult journey of survival — and advocacy — she’s undertaken. Karrer Manley has since joined survivors, medical professionals and public health advocates calling for the passage of \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1682\">AB 1682\u003c/a>, which is currently on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, that aims to make automated mechanical scalp-cooling devices more accessible, beginning in 2027.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“To move about the world during chemo treatment with your hair and not everybody realizing what’s going on with you or staring at you, I think that’s really meaningful and important, and it has such an impact on your mental health,” said Karrer Manley, sitting at her dining room table alongside Asa, the “chemo puppy” she adopted for treatment support. “You know, cancer takes so much from you, it really robs so much of you, but at least I had a little bit of hair.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“To move about the world during chemo treatment with your hair and not everybody realizing what’s going on with you or staring at you, I think that’s really meaningful and important, and it has such an impact on your mental health,” said Karrer Manley, sitting at her dining room table alongside Asa, the “chemo puppy” she adopted for treatment support. “You know, cancer takes so much from you, it really robs so much of you, but at least I had a little bit of hair.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At a June \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1682\">hearing\u003c/a> in Sacramento, the bill’s co-author Assemblymember Gregg Hart of Santa Barbara said the measure – which resembles \u003ca href=\"https://rapunzelproject.org/\">similar\u003c/a> laws in five states (Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, New York and West Virginia) — would preserve “dignity, confidence and quality of life” for Californians fighting cancer, regardless of their ability to pay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At a June \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1682\">hearing\u003c/a> in Sacramento, the bill’s co-author Assemblymember Gregg Hart of Santa Barbara said the measure – which resembles \u003ca href=\"https://rapunzelproject.org/\">similar\u003c/a> laws in five states (Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, New York and West Virginia) — would preserve “dignity, confidence and quality of life” for Californians fighting cancer, regardless of their ability to pay.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The amended proposal — which state legislators passed unanimously — applies to large group insurers and Medi-Cal plans.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In April, the California Health Benefits Review Program, a nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.chbrp.org/about\">group\u003c/a> tasked with responding to the state Legislature’s request for independent review of all proposed bills related to health benefits, reviewed an earlier, broader draft of AB 1682. The original legislation would have applied to \u003cem>all\u003c/em> state-regulated health insurance, but would have resulted in 680 additional enrollees receiving scalp cooling, for an additional $4 million in annual premiums paid by employers and enrollees.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In April, the California Health Benefits Review Program, a nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.chbrp.org/about\">group\u003c/a> tasked with responding to the state Legislature’s request for independent review of all proposed bills related to health benefits, reviewed an earlier, broader draft of AB 1682. The original legislation would have applied to \u003cem>all\u003c/em> state-regulated health insurance, but would have resulted in 680 additional enrollees receiving scalp cooling, for an additional $4 million in annual premiums paid by employers and enrollees.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Janet Coffman, a member of the benefits review program and a health policy expert with UCSF, said the technology has a relatively small fiscal impact (unlike, for example, proposed insurance \u003ca href=\"https://abcnews.com/GMA/Wellness/halle-berry-criticizes-gov-gavin-newsom-devaluing-women/story?id=128104843\">mandates\u003c/a> for pre- and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy that Newsom vetoed in 2025, calling it “too far-reaching”).\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Janet Coffman, a member of the benefits review program and a health policy expert with UCSF, said the technology has a relatively small fiscal impact (unlike, for example, proposed insurance \u003ca href=\"https://abcnews.com/GMA/Wellness/halle-berry-criticizes-gov-gavin-newsom-devaluing-women/story?id=128104843\">mandates\u003c/a> for pre- and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy that Newsom vetoed in 2025, calling it “too far-reaching”).\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s only for people who are actively undergoing cancer treatment. And they’re really only used with a subset of cancers,” Coffman said. “The marginal cost is pretty small.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The insurance lobby group California Association of Health Plans has opposed the measure, arguing that Californians are facing a health care affordability crisis, citing a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">health tax redesign\u003c/a> recently approved by the governor that the California Medical Association, a physician advocacy group, has \u003ca href=\"https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/cma-warns-2026-27-state-budget-will-increase-health-insurance-costs\">warned\u003c/a> could pass through to consumers in the form of higher premiums.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The insurance lobby group California Association of Health Plans has opposed the measure, arguing that Californians are facing a health care affordability crisis, citing a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">health tax redesign\u003c/a> recently approved by the governor that the California Medical Association, a physician advocacy group, has \u003ca href=\"https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/cma-warns-2026-27-state-budget-will-increase-health-insurance-costs\">warned\u003c/a> could pass through to consumers in the form of higher premiums.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“At the same time, six additional health care mandates, including AB 1682, have been sent to the governor for his signature that will altogether increase premiums by more than $170 million, piling on even more health care costs for working families across the state,” the CAHP said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“At the same time, six additional health care mandates, including AB 1682, have been sent to the governor for his signature that will altogether increase premiums by more than $170 million, piling on even more health care costs for working families across the state,” the CAHP said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The governor’s office declined to comment on bills pending action from Newsom by a Sept. 30 deadline. He is no stranger to the disease, as he has previously \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/04/gavin-newsom-assisted-suicide\">spoken\u003c/a> about being with his mother during her assisted suicide in 2002 after her yearslong battle with breast cancer.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The governor’s office declined to comment on bills pending action from Newsom by a Sept. 30 deadline. He is no stranger to the disease, as he has previously \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/04/gavin-newsom-assisted-suicide\">spoken\u003c/a> about being with his mother during her assisted suicide in 2002 after her yearslong battle with breast cancer.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Karrer Manley hopes that he will advocate for supportive cancer care for people who otherwise cannot afford it. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There are just too many people impacted by cancer, and yet the fiscal impact is so small,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“There are just too many people impacted by cancer, and yet the fiscal impact is so small,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "If the measure becomes law, it would require Medi-Cal and other large group health plans to cover scalp-cooling treatments.",
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"title": "California Could Join Handful of States That Cover Cancer Hair-Loss Treatment | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> mom Anna Karrer Manley remembers one of the hardest conversations she had two years ago.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She was 45 and had recently learned about her breast cancer diagnosis. She needed to share the news with her two kids, then ages 6 and 11, to prepare them for her battle with the disease — six rounds of chemotherapy and their most recognizable side effect, hair loss. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My son had just started a new school in sixth grade, and he sheepishly asked me, ‘So, Mom, are you still gonna come to pick up?’” Karrer Manley said. “[My daughter] just cried because she didn’t want Mommy to change\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Soon after her diagnosis, Karrer Manley joined a breast cancer patient support group, \u003ca href=\"https://bayareayoungsurvivors.org/\">Bay Area Young Survivors\u003c/a>, where she learned about scalp cooling, an FDA-cleared treatment that helps patients keep their hair through cooling caps, which can be worn before, during and after chemotherapy infusions. The technology helps restrict blood flow and reduce the amount of medication that reaches the hair follicles. The vast majority of people who use scalp cooling, like Karrer Manley, are battling breast cancer, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.e18739\">research\u003c/a> presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2021. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099645\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-46-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ines (from left), Stacey Manley, Etienne, Anna Karrer Manley, and their chemo puppy, Asa, at their home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099642\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099642\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-27-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley shows strands of her hair that grew back darker and curlier after falling out during chemotherapy. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099641\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099641\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-26-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley holds a photo of herself wearing a cold cap at her home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The technology wasn’t covered through insurance, but Karrer Manley said she and her husband scraped around $5,000 to pay for the treatment. (She returned to work part time during treatment.) The cooling caps allowed her to keep 70% of her hair, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Her vibrant complexion and beyond-shoulder-length hair belie the difficult journey of survival — and advocacy — she’s undertaken. Karrer Manley has since joined survivors, medical professionals and public health advocates calling for the passage of \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1682\">AB 1682\u003c/a>, which is currently on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, that aims to make automated mechanical scalp-cooling devices more accessible, beginning in 2027.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To move about the world during chemo treatment with your hair and not everybody realizing what’s going on with you or staring at you, I think that’s really meaningful and important, and it has such an impact on your mental health,” said Karrer Manley, sitting at her dining room table alongside Asa, the “chemo puppy” she adopted for treatment support. “You know, cancer takes so much from you, it really robs so much of you, but at least I had a little bit of hair.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At a June \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1682\">hearing\u003c/a> in Sacramento, the bill’s co-author Assemblymember Gregg Hart of Santa Barbara said the measure – which resembles \u003ca href=\"https://rapunzelproject.org/\">similar\u003c/a> laws in five states (Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, New York and West Virginia) — would preserve “dignity, confidence and quality of life” for Californians fighting cancer, regardless of their ability to pay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The amended proposal — which state legislators passed unanimously — applies to large group insurers and Medi-Cal plans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, the California Health Benefits Review Program, a nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.chbrp.org/about\">group\u003c/a> tasked with responding to the state Legislature’s request for independent review of all proposed bills related to health benefits, reviewed an earlier, broader draft of AB 1682. The original legislation would have applied to \u003cem>all\u003c/em> state-regulated health insurance, but would have resulted in 680 additional enrollees receiving scalp cooling, for an additional $4 million in annual premiums paid by employers and enrollees.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Janet Coffman, a member of the benefits review program and a health policy expert with UCSF, said the technology has a relatively small fiscal impact (unlike, for example, proposed insurance \u003ca href=\"https://abcnews.com/GMA/Wellness/halle-berry-criticizes-gov-gavin-newsom-devaluing-women/story?id=128104843\">mandates\u003c/a> for pre- and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy that Newsom vetoed in 2025, calling it “too far-reaching”).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s only for people who are actively undergoing cancer treatment. And they’re really only used with a subset of cancers,” Coffman said. “The marginal cost is pretty small.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099646\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-57-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley (center) with her children Etienne (left) and Ines (right) at their home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099647\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099647\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-69-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Karrer Manley walks her dog, Asa, whom she got while she was undergoing chemotherapy, near her home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099639\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099639\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260913-CancerScalpTreatment-NG-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cookbooks, including The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery, in Anna Karrer Manley’s home in Oakland on Sept. 13, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The insurance lobby group California Association of Health Plans has opposed the measure, arguing that Californians are facing a health care affordability crisis, citing a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">health tax redesign\u003c/a> recently approved by the governor that the California Medical Association, a physician advocacy group, has \u003ca href=\"https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/cma-warns-2026-27-state-budget-will-increase-health-insurance-costs\">warned\u003c/a> could pass through to consumers in the form of higher premiums.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“At the same time, six additional health care mandates, including AB 1682, have been sent to the governor for his signature that will altogether increase premiums by more than $170 million, piling on even more health care costs for working families across the state,” the CAHP said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The governor’s office declined to comment on bills pending action from Newsom by a Sept. 30 deadline. He is no stranger to the disease, as he has previously \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/04/gavin-newsom-assisted-suicide\">spoken\u003c/a> about being with his mother during her assisted suicide in 2002 after her yearslong battle with breast cancer.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Karrer Manley hopes that he will advocate for supportive cancer care for people who otherwise cannot afford it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are just too many people impacted by cancer, and yet the fiscal impact is so small,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "this-bay-area-immigrant-rights-organization-is-helping-filipino-caregivers-care-for-themselves",
"title": "This Bay Area Immigrant Rights Organization Is Helping Filipino Caregivers Care for Themselves",
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"headTitle": "This Bay Area Immigrant Rights Organization Is Helping Filipino Caregivers Care for Themselves | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This project was produced jointly by KQED and CatchLight as part of the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://catchlight.io/mental-health\">\u003cem>mental health visual desk initiative.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet’s only obligation was to focus on himself. At least for one day. In the bright orange office of Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ), where he was attending a special wellness meeting for caregiver worker leaders like himself, he closed his eyes, relaxed his shoulders and breathed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You are seen. Inhale,” a staff member told the group. “You are valued. Exhale.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sometimes, Pakbet said he feels valued, like when he was a private aide for Teddy, a 98-year-old woman at the retirement home. They developed a relationship like a mother and son, and he would treat her so — cooking her homemade chicken feet adobo, or watching makeup tutorials with her online. He’d apply her lipstick, dress her in a gown and accompany her into the dining room, declaring, “The queen has arrived!” Besides bathing her and monitoring vitals, he saw it as his job to make her laugh.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099853\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-2000x666.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-2048x682.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness, leads a mental wellness breathing and massage exercise to open FAJ’s Kapwa Circle, a monthly community-building event, at the organization’s Union City location on March 6, 2026. Right: Pakbet (center) sings “Precious and Few” as the FAJ community honors FAJ worker organizer, Santi Tagle Buensuceso, during a surprise farewell party about one week before Buensuceso relocates back to the Philippines. Although Pakbet had a caregiving shift that evening, he joined the first half of the Kapwa Circle to attend the surprise going-away party for Buensuceso, who he considers an older sister. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096175\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the Filipino Advocates for Justice community practice a breathing and movement exercise during the organization’s March Kapwa Circle. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Other times, his body remembers: panic attacks from the chronic stress of unstable paychecks and exploitative employers, grief for his mother with cancer back home in the Philippines, whom he hasn’t hugged in a decade. The depression has led to insomnia and isolation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My world is work, home. I don’t have any trusted friends,” he said. “This is my life.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet, 54, said caregivers like him can feel overworked and undervalued. A Bay Area immigrant rights organization, FAJ creates an affirming space for them to rest and celebrate, so they can show up whole — not only for themselves but for others.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"994\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18-160x80.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18-1536x763.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Center: Pakbet poses for a portrait in his Bay Area home on May 4, 2026, where he has lived with his family for six years. Previously, they lived in abusive situations, sharing cramped spaces and experiencing mistreatment. In 2020, with guidance from a friend at FAJ, they secured their own apartment. “We rent, and we’re very happy because my son has a room. I can cook now,” said Pakbet. “That’s our paradise.” Left and Right: A Bible and cross adorn the walls of Pakbet’s apartment. The demands of caregiving often weigh heavily on his mind, but he finds solace in his faith. “It’s hard, it’s very tiring,” he said. “Without my son, without my faith, I almost give up.” (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Leaning on Filipino cultural practices and intergenerational connection, mental health is woven into everything they do, from monthly gatherings and wellness clinics to everyday grounding techniques and artistic expression. Yet the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and statewide funding cuts to mental health services have threatened their prevention work, even as a shortage in \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/Goals/4\">care workers \u003c/a>looms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Filipinos are heavily represented in the healthcare workforce, according to \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7969854/\">research\u003c/a>, and many are paid to care for older adults. Respect for elders is a deeply embedded cultural value. As California’s population continues to age — \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/\">about 25% will be an older adult by 2030\u003c/a> — caregivers will become even more essential. But isolation, burnout, racial discrimination, wage theft, and more can all contribute to mental health challenges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They are the first to take care of everybody else. And that’s done at the expense of their own bodies, their own emotional health,” said Geraldine Alcid, executive director of FAJ. “They deserve to take care of themselves, and they deserve rest.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1272\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096185\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17-1536x977.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An old photograph of Pakbet and Teddy decorated with makeup and his written reflections. To help Teddy prepare for outings, Pakbet watched YouTube tutorials to learn makeup and helped her choose dresses and jewelry. At the care home, Pakbet recalls people asking him, “Where is your master?” but Teddy always defended him, responding that he was her family. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; instant photo made with and handwriting and decorations by Pakbet)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_05_Caregiver1_CookingAdobo_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096600\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet cooks chicken adobo at home. He de-stresses through cooking and finds joy in sharing his food. When caring for Teddy, a former client who was bedridden, he learned she had grown tired of retirement home meals and missed eating dim sum and chicken feet. He made her chicken feet adobo and began cooking for her. Over time, Pakbet says, she regained energy and began walking again. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; handwriting by Pakbet)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>When Pakbet first arrived in the States alone over a decade ago, he lived and worked at a residential care home for older adults. He said his boss forced him to sleep on cardboard in the garage, and his paychecks didn’t reflect the long, exhausting hours. He also knew caregivers who died by suicide. Pakbet, at times, didn’t know if he’d make it. The reason he immigrated was to provide for his son’s education.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Pakbet said his Bible and a photo of his son got him through.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet’s experience is common. Yet cultural \u003ca href=\"https://filipinos4justice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-30-22-Filipino-Advocates-for-Justice-FAJ_-A-Mental-Health-Report-_-Kumusta-Tayo-2021.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">stigma\u003c/a> and shame can prevent Filipino immigrants from seeking support. “I’ve witnessed many times caregivers who need help. They get scared and hide in the dark,” Pakbet said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over a decade ago, Oakland-based community health center Asian Health Services referred an exploited caregiver who was anxious and stressed to FAJ. The organization realized others had similar stories, and it was the catalyst for it to focus efforts on prevention. In 2015, they launched a mental health support group for caregivers, many of them older, funded through a two-year Alameda County innovations grant. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>FAJ expanded its program with the help of an eight-year county contract. They hired a licensed mental health professional on staff, as well as three part-time community outreach specialists to facilitate mental health offerings rooted in culture. FAJ also created a Healing Advisory Committee that organizes free annual wellness clinics, featuring Filipino traditions such as hilot, a massage focused on releasing trauma. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096179\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet hangs a wet sheet to dry near the window in his Bay Area home. After years of living in the United States without access to an in-home washing machine, he set up a small washer in his apartment kitchen — a change he says has saved him time and eased the routines of daily life. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096178\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10-1536x707.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Pakbet holds calamansi — a sweet and sour Filipino citrus with fragrant flowers — that he harvested from the office garden at Filipino Advocates for Justice for cooking. Right: Pakbet’s caregiving scrubs drape the living room couch where he sleeps so that his son can have the only bedroom in their apartment. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2023, a one-time state grant from the Department of Aging enabled FAJ to shift attention again to caregivers. They provided training on topics such as nutrition and managing grief, weaving in hands-on clinics for everyday self-care. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At first, caregivers expressed apprehensive curiosity. Then eventually, they requested chia seed pudding recipes and acupuncture, even the caregivers who feared needles. The organization also provided acupressure rings people could roll on their fingers whenever they needed to calm themselves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nervous system regulation is essential for moving from merely surviving to thriving, said Dr. Karen Villanueva, training lead and executive director of Kilusan Wellness. And for the majority of caregivers with little time or money, accessibility is key. “So much the better if you can tuck it in your pocket and take it out when you need it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This July, the policy changes California made to its landmark Behavioral Services Act took effect. When voters passed Proposition 1 in 2024, they approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to shift funds away from prevention and early intervention toward treatment beds. FAJ’s prevention funding, which supports half of their direct services, was reduced from $360,000 to zero dollars — the organization lost its licensed mental health professional and folded its community outreach advisers into other roles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the special meeting for wellness worker leaders, where Pakbet could slow down and breathe, the thinning manifested in another way. Usually, nearly a dozen caregivers would be gearing up to knock on the doors of care homes in the East Bay, handing “know your rights” information to employees. The organization pays these workers a learning stipend to perform this outreach work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when Pakbet looked around the office, he was one of the few caregivers who had stayed. Half of the group had chosen to spend their remaining years in the Philippines as the Trump administration pushes to aggressively crack down on immigration. Many said they were tired of feeling criminalized and undervalued, or, as one staff member of the organization said, an “America-doesn’t-deserve-me” mentality. Others said they missed moments with loved ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096177\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet listens to a talk on safety in sanctuary cities during an FAJ informational session for caregivers and their community. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Along with other caregivers in this story, KQED is referring to Pakbet only by a nickname to allow them to speak openly about their mental health struggles and working conditions without jeopardizing their employment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet understands the impulse to return home. Still, he said he was feeling especially tender.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His “lifeline,” FAJ’s worker organizer and seasoned activist Santi Tagle Buensuceso, had announced that she was also returning to her homeland.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whenever Pakbet struggled, instead of crying alone, he’d call Tagle Buensuceso. Sometimes, he’d voice his doubts about his ability to be a provider: “Am I a good father? Am I doing OK? Do I need to go back to the Philippines?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She would assure him that trying his best was good enough, that he was a great father and husband. She also realized caregivers like Pakbet needed more outlets and two years ago suggested FAJ host monthly Kapwa Circles for the wider community. A third space to unwind, to reflect, to create joy. \u003ca href=\"https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2026/webprogram/Paper61579.html\">Kapwa\u003c/a>, a Filipino value meaning interconnectedness, the recognition of yourself in each other.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096176\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Community members practice a breathing and movement exercise as Santi Tagle Buensuceso reads a farewell card signed by the Filipino Advocates for Justice community during a surprise party held a week before her return to the Philippines. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096171\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, right, says goodbye to Tagle Buensuceso during her surprise farewell party. To Pakbet, Buensuceso was like an older sister, someone who always looked out for and advocated for him. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>On a Friday evening in March, the young and old came together at FAJ’s Union City office to recreate a slice of the Philippines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fried chicken from Jollibee piled high on paper plates, the sounds of people speaking Tagalog could be heard. Outside, a community garden where calamansi, a citrus fruit native to the Philippines, had been harvested for a jar of juice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The event is what FAJ leadership describes as a “Filipino family party” or a Kapwa Circle. It has a different flavor each month and begins with a discussion of a social justice topic — sanctuary cities, for one, or voter registration — to invite people into FAJ’s organizing work. After the community conversation, they host an activity like bingo or mahjong. Always karaoke, whether planned or not. There is a rule of no chisme, but many will say gossip is their favorite part. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096174\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People dance the Pinoy Cha-Cha during the March Kapwa Circle at the offices of Filipino Advocates for Justice in Union City, California. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099855\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-2000x666.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-2048x682.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Cristy Ferrer, a Filipino Advocates for Justice organizer, left, and Ine, a caregiver and FAJ worker leader, lead a Pinoy Cha-Cha dance lesson. Right: Ine dances with another community member during the Kapwa Circle. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The evening was Tagle Buensuceso’s last circle. Pakbet was there, drawn to a space where he could laugh and smile naturally. “I don’t need to fake it,” he said. He must leave early, however, to care for a client. Pakbet is now a certified nurse assistant and works hourly one-on-one with clients, but stability has been elusive lately. Clients have entered hospital care or passed away. With fewer hours, he has no choice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For now, he joined in celebrating Tagle Buensuceso. As a surprise, staff handed out printed lyrics of her favorite song, “Precious and Few” by the band Climax. Ine, a fellow caregiver worker leader, grabbed her guitar. She led the group for a sing-along to the ’70s soft-rock song about cherishing moments, and the metaphor was not lost.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A mother of three, Ine came solo to the U.S. 15 years ago to provide her children a good college education, and has lived and worked at a care home ever since. As the home’s cook, Ine, 63, plates green pesto pasta and other colorful food with the intention to appeal to her dementia patients. She also administers medicine, having gone back to school to become a pharmacy technician, graduating with honors. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ectSMWvm4\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She said she talks with her husband and children via video every night, but misses them the most on holidays and birthdays. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Back in her room at the care home, she filled a balikbayan box for her son’s 41st birthday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She lovingly selected Lacoste polo shirts, Ferrero Rocher chocolate and other items for the care package by hand, a proxy for her presence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1513\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_06_VideoPortraits_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096610\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caregivers, community members and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice pose for portraits in the garden near a calamansi tree cared for by staff and harvested by caregivers for their food. Some chose gestures of wellness to express in their portraits. “There’s such a deep, immense healing power that caregivers have,” said Daisy Maxion, FAJ organizing director. “They remind us of what it means to be human.” (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Every month, she makes sure she has time off for the Kapwa Circle. When she is tired, when the monotony of caregiving is grueling, she said being with other caregivers at FAJ and, better, using her musical talent to entertain, gives her the “strength to work for another day.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This evening, Ine passed the mic to Tagle Buensuceso, who said that before FAJ, she believed cigarettes were the only form of wellness. She left the group with one last piece of wisdom. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of your community.” Pakbet clapped. The music began. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hands linked and people moved to the Cupid Shuffle, the Macarena, the Pinoy Cha-Cha. Ine was in her element, her first love, dance. The food whittled down. When a delivery worker stopped by to drop off more Spam musubi, she was met with a chorus of: “Stay. Take a plate.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096181\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13-1536x707.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: A community member of Filipino Advocates for Justice holds a flower in her hand as she poses in front of a backdrop. “If you’re able to breathe deeply and freely, if you’re able to sit with difficult emotions, if you’re able to get regular sleep and eat food that has some nutrition in it … you’re leaving room for creativity and imagination and the courage to reach out,” said Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness. “Nervous system regulation allows us to really know who we are.” Right: Two attendees wear Filipiniana dresses as they fill ttheir plates during a Kapwa Circle potluck. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>There is power in knowing others share similar experiences, said Dr. Annalisa Enrile, a Filipina community organizer and professor at the USC School of Social Work.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Enrile has researched how \u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-27795-003.html\">communal care in Filipino immigrant communities\u003c/a> that draws on cultural practices can ease stress and improve mental well-being. “If you feel like you belong in a way that gives you agency, and reduces stigma,” she said, “then you’re more apt to ask for help.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>FAJ’s leaders, too, realized belonging was a way to build trust and encourage caregivers to open up, and it’s why they have prioritized connection as the heart of their programming. Recently, they were relieved to hear they received one year of bridge funding to bring back their mental health specialist as they figure out how to sustain their wellness and mental health services. A temporary bandage, executive director Geraldine Alcid said, but enough to keep going. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096184\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ine near the San Francisco Bay, where she likes to go and recharge when she has time. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite the funding uncertainty, the group is sustained by a deep hope: Show up, and something might shift. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet wasn’t sure if he’d come back to FAJ when Tagle Buensuceso left. He decided to keep showing up anyway, without a community elsewhere. Later that spring, he attended a picnic for caregivers at Contra Loma Regional Park in Contra Costa County. The stillness of the oak-tree-dotted hills contrasted with the chaos of the last few months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of his male clients was in the hospital, which meant Pakbet was not being paid to take care of him and was spending too much time alone at home in his apartment. He nearly missed a rent payment until he reached out to FAJ to help. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1998\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096180\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, center, joins other caregivers and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice under the shade of a tree at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch for an annual picnic–an opportunity to connect with caregivers from across the Bay Area and enjoy nature. Caregivers practiced wellness stretching, shared food and reenacted moments from caregiving through a “Theater of the Oppressed” activity. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Grateful for people, for peaceful nature, he set up his phone on a tripod to document the picnic. The wind was gentle. The wetlands glassy. A duck swam by and Pakbet paused to look at it, reminding him of balut, a delicacy with roots in his mother’s province. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The caregivers took turns sharing their favorite stretch before acting out a scripted scene from \u003cem>Theater of the Oppressed\u003c/em>, an approach that uses roleplay to explore solutions to social problems. Pakbet assumed the role of a care home owner. Drawing from his own experience, he joked about doling out “expensive” perfume from the Dollar Tree instead of actual dollars for overtime. People burst out laughing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet reflected afterward and said he has never felt more anchored in his purpose to empower caregivers like himself. Next outreach, when he knocks on doors, before asking about rights, before handing them a booklet, he will first ask, “How are you doing?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was made possible in part by the Aging Beat workshop, convened by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pakbet’s only obligation was to focus on himself. At least for one day. In the bright orange office of Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ), where he was attending a special wellness meeting for caregiver worker leaders like himself, he closed his eyes, relaxed his shoulders and breathed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sometimes, Pakbet said he feels valued, like when he was a private aide for Teddy, a 98-year-old woman at the retirement home. They developed a relationship like a mother and son, and he would treat her so — cooking her homemade chicken feet adobo, or watching makeup tutorials with her online. He’d apply her lipstick, dress her in a gown and accompany her into the dining room, declaring, “The queen has arrived!” Besides bathing her and monitoring vitals, he saw it as his job to make her laugh.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sometimes, Pakbet said he feels valued, like when he was a private aide for Teddy, a 98-year-old woman at the retirement home. They developed a relationship like a mother and son, and he would treat her so — cooking her homemade chicken feet adobo, or watching makeup tutorials with her online. He’d apply her lipstick, dress her in a gown and accompany her into the dining room, declaring, “The queen has arrived!” Besides bathing her and monitoring vitals, he saw it as his job to make her laugh.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099853\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-2000x666.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-2048x682.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness, leads a mental wellness breathing and massage exercise to open FAJ’s Kapwa Circle, a monthly community-building event, at the organization’s Union City location on March 6, 2026. Right: Pakbet (center) sings “Precious and Few” as the FAJ community honors FAJ worker organizer, Santi Tagle Buensuceso, during a surprise farewell party about one week before Buensuceso relocates back to the Philippines. Although Pakbet had a caregiving shift that evening, he joined the first half of the Kapwa Circle to attend the surprise going-away party for Buensuceso, who he considers an older sister.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099853\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness, leads a mental wellness breathing and massage exercise to open FAJ’s Kapwa Circle, a monthly community-building event, at the organization’s Union City location on March 6, 2026. Right: Pakbet (center) sings “Precious and Few” as the FAJ community honors FAJ worker organizer, Santi Tagle Buensuceso, during a surprise farewell party about one week before Buensuceso relocates back to the Philippines. Although Pakbet had a caregiving shift that evening, he joined the first half of the Kapwa Circle to attend the surprise going-away party for Buensuceso, who he considers an older sister.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096175\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the Filipino Advocates for Justice community practice a breathing and movement exercise during the organization’s March Kapwa Circle.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096175\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the Filipino Advocates for Justice community practice a breathing and movement exercise during the organization’s March Kapwa Circle.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other times, his body remembers: panic attacks from the chronic stress of unstable paychecks and exploitative employers, grief for his mother with cancer back home in the Philippines, whom he hasn’t hugged in a decade. The depression has led to insomnia and isolation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Other times, his body remembers: panic attacks from the chronic stress of unstable paychecks and exploitative employers, grief for his mother with cancer back home in the Philippines, whom he hasn’t hugged in a decade. The depression has led to insomnia and isolation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pakbet, 54, said caregivers like him can feel overworked and undervalued. A Bay Area immigrant rights organization, FAJ creates an affirming space for them to rest and celebrate, so they can show up whole — not only for themselves but for others.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Pakbet, 54, said caregivers like him can feel overworked and undervalued. A Bay Area immigrant rights organization, FAJ creates an affirming space for them to rest and celebrate, so they can show up whole — not only for themselves but for others.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18-160x80.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18-1536x763.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Center: Pakbet poses for a portrait in his Bay Area home on May 4, 2026, where he has lived with his family for six years. Previously, they lived in abusive situations, sharing cramped spaces and experiencing mistreatment. In 2020, with guidance from a friend at FAJ, they secured their own apartment. “We rent, and we’re very happy because my son has a room. I can cook now,” said Pakbet. “That’s our paradise.” Left and Right: A Bible and cross adorn the walls of Pakbet’s apartment. The demands of caregiving often weigh heavily on his mind, but he finds solace in his faith. “It’s hard, it’s very tiring,” he said. “Without my son, without my faith, I almost give up.”\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096186\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Center: Pakbet poses for a portrait in his Bay Area home on May 4, 2026, where he has lived with his family for six years. Previously, they lived in abusive situations, sharing cramped spaces and experiencing mistreatment. In 2020, with guidance from a friend at FAJ, they secured their own apartment. “We rent, and we’re very happy because my son has a room. I can cook now,” said Pakbet. “That’s our paradise.” Left and Right: A Bible and cross adorn the walls of Pakbet’s apartment. The demands of caregiving often weigh heavily on his mind, but he finds solace in his faith. “It’s hard, it’s very tiring,” he said. “Without my son, without my faith, I almost give up.”\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Leaning on Filipino cultural practices and intergenerational connection, mental health is woven into everything they do, from monthly gatherings and wellness clinics to everyday grounding techniques and artistic expression. Yet the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and statewide funding cuts to mental health services have threatened their prevention work, even as a shortage in \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/Goals/4\">care workers \u003c/a>looms. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Leaning on Filipino cultural practices and intergenerational connection, mental health is woven into everything they do, from monthly gatherings and wellness clinics to everyday grounding techniques and artistic expression. Yet the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and statewide funding cuts to mental health services have threatened their prevention work, even as a shortage in \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/Goals/4\">care workers \u003c/a>looms. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Filipinos are heavily represented in the healthcare workforce, according to \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7969854/\">research\u003c/a>, and many are paid to care for older adults. Respect for elders is a deeply embedded cultural value. As California’s population continues to age — \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/\">about 25% will be an older adult by 2030\u003c/a> — caregivers will become even more essential. But isolation, burnout, racial discrimination, wage theft, and more can all contribute to mental health challenges.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Filipinos are heavily represented in the healthcare workforce, according to \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7969854/\">research\u003c/a>, and many are paid to care for older adults. Respect for elders is a deeply embedded cultural value. As California’s population continues to age — \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/\">about 25% will be an older adult by 2030\u003c/a> — caregivers will become even more essential. But isolation, burnout, racial discrimination, wage theft, and more can all contribute to mental health challenges.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They are the first to take care of everybody else. And that’s done at the expense of their own bodies, their own emotional health,” said Geraldine Alcid, executive director of FAJ. “They deserve to take care of themselves, and they deserve rest.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They are the first to take care of everybody else. And that’s done at the expense of their own bodies, their own emotional health,” said Geraldine Alcid, executive director of FAJ. “They deserve to take care of themselves, and they deserve rest.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096185\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17-1536x977.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An old photograph of Pakbet and Teddy decorated with makeup and his written reflections. To help Teddy prepare for outings, Pakbet watched YouTube tutorials to learn makeup and helped her choose dresses and jewelry. At the care home, Pakbet recalls people asking him, “Where is your master?” but Teddy always defended him, responding that he was her family.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; instant photo made with and handwriting and decorations by Pakbet)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096185\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An old photograph of Pakbet and Teddy decorated with makeup and his written reflections. To help Teddy prepare for outings, Pakbet watched YouTube tutorials to learn makeup and helped her choose dresses and jewelry. At the care home, Pakbet recalls people asking him, “Where is your master?” but Teddy always defended him, responding that he was her family.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; instant photo made with and handwriting and decorations by Pakbet)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_05_Caregiver1_CookingAdobo_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096600\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet cooks chicken adobo at home. He de-stresses through cooking and finds joy in sharing his food. When caring for Teddy, a former client who was bedridden, he learned she had grown tired of retirement home meals and missed eating dim sum and chicken feet. He made her chicken feet adobo and began cooking for her. Over time, Pakbet says, she regained energy and began walking again.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; handwriting by Pakbet)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_05_Caregiver1_CookingAdobo_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096600\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet cooks chicken adobo at home. He de-stresses through cooking and finds joy in sharing his food. When caring for Teddy, a former client who was bedridden, he learned she had grown tired of retirement home meals and missed eating dim sum and chicken feet. He made her chicken feet adobo and began cooking for her. Over time, Pakbet says, she regained energy and began walking again.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; handwriting by Pakbet)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When Pakbet first arrived in the States alone over a decade ago, he lived and worked at a residential care home for older adults. He said his boss forced him to sleep on cardboard in the garage, and his paychecks didn’t reflect the long, exhausting hours. He also knew caregivers who died by suicide. Pakbet, at times, didn’t know if he’d make it. The reason he immigrated was to provide for his son’s education.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Pakbet said his Bible and a photo of his son got him through.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When Pakbet first arrived in the States alone over a decade ago, he lived and worked at a residential care home for older adults. He said his boss forced him to sleep on cardboard in the garage, and his paychecks didn’t reflect the long, exhausting hours. He also knew caregivers who died by suicide. Pakbet, at times, didn’t know if he’d make it. The reason he immigrated was to provide for his son’s education.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Pakbet said his Bible and a photo of his son got him through.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pakbet’s experience is common. Yet cultural \u003ca href=\"https://filipinos4justice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-30-22-Filipino-Advocates-for-Justice-FAJ_-A-Mental-Health-Report-_-Kumusta-Tayo-2021.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">stigma\u003c/a> and shame can prevent Filipino immigrants from seeking support. “I’ve witnessed many times caregivers who need help. They get scared and hide in the dark,” Pakbet said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Pakbet’s experience is common. Yet cultural \u003ca href=\"https://filipinos4justice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-30-22-Filipino-Advocates-for-Justice-FAJ_-A-Mental-Health-Report-_-Kumusta-Tayo-2021.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">stigma\u003c/a> and shame can prevent Filipino immigrants from seeking support. “I’ve witnessed many times caregivers who need help. They get scared and hide in the dark,” Pakbet said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over a decade ago, Oakland-based community health center Asian Health Services referred an exploited caregiver who was anxious and stressed to FAJ. The organization realized others had similar stories, and it was the catalyst for it to focus efforts on prevention. In 2015, they launched a mental health support group for caregivers, many of them older, funded through a two-year Alameda County innovations grant. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over a decade ago, Oakland-based community health center Asian Health Services referred an exploited caregiver who was anxious and stressed to FAJ. The organization realized others had similar stories, and it was the catalyst for it to focus efforts on prevention. In 2015, they launched a mental health support group for caregivers, many of them older, funded through a two-year Alameda County innovations grant. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>FAJ expanded its program with the help of an eight-year county contract. They hired a licensed mental health professional on staff, as well as three part-time community outreach specialists to facilitate mental health offerings rooted in culture. FAJ also created a Healing Advisory Committee that organizes free annual wellness clinics, featuring Filipino traditions such as hilot, a massage focused on releasing trauma. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>FAJ expanded its program with the help of an eight-year county contract. They hired a licensed mental health professional on staff, as well as three part-time community outreach specialists to facilitate mental health offerings rooted in culture. FAJ also created a Healing Advisory Committee that organizes free annual wellness clinics, featuring Filipino traditions such as hilot, a massage focused on releasing trauma. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096179\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet hangs a wet sheet to dry near the window in his Bay Area home. After years of living in the United States without access to an in-home washing machine, he set up a small washer in his apartment kitchen — a change he says has saved him time and eased the routines of daily life.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096179\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet hangs a wet sheet to dry near the window in his Bay Area home. After years of living in the United States without access to an in-home washing machine, he set up a small washer in his apartment kitchen — a change he says has saved him time and eased the routines of daily life.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096178\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10-1536x707.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Pakbet holds calamansi — a sweet and sour Filipino citrus with fragrant flowers — that he harvested from the office garden at Filipino Advocates for Justice for cooking. Right: Pakbet’s caregiving scrubs drape the living room couch where he sleeps so that his son can have the only bedroom in their apartment.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096178\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Pakbet holds calamansi — a sweet and sour Filipino citrus with fragrant flowers — that he harvested from the office garden at Filipino Advocates for Justice for cooking. Right: Pakbet’s caregiving scrubs drape the living room couch where he sleeps so that his son can have the only bedroom in their apartment.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2023, a one-time state grant from the Department of Aging enabled FAJ to shift attention again to caregivers. They provided training on topics such as nutrition and managing grief, weaving in hands-on clinics for everyday self-care. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2023, a one-time state grant from the Department of Aging enabled FAJ to shift attention again to caregivers. They provided training on topics such as nutrition and managing grief, weaving in hands-on clinics for everyday self-care. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At first, caregivers expressed apprehensive curiosity. Then eventually, they requested chia seed pudding recipes and acupuncture, even the caregivers who feared needles. The organization also provided acupressure rings people could roll on their fingers whenever they needed to calm themselves.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At first, caregivers expressed apprehensive curiosity. Then eventually, they requested chia seed pudding recipes and acupuncture, even the caregivers who feared needles. The organization also provided acupressure rings people could roll on their fingers whenever they needed to calm themselves.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nervous system regulation is essential for moving from merely surviving to thriving, said Dr. Karen Villanueva, training lead and executive director of Kilusan Wellness. And for the majority of caregivers with little time or money, accessibility is key. “So much the better if you can tuck it in your pocket and take it out when you need it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nervous system regulation is essential for moving from merely surviving to thriving, said Dr. Karen Villanueva, training lead and executive director of Kilusan Wellness. And for the majority of caregivers with little time or money, accessibility is key. “So much the better if you can tuck it in your pocket and take it out when you need it.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This July, the policy changes California made to its landmark Behavioral Services Act took effect. When voters passed Proposition 1 in 2024, they approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to shift funds away from prevention and early intervention toward treatment beds. FAJ’s prevention funding, which supports half of their direct services, was reduced from $360,000 to zero dollars — the organization lost its licensed mental health professional and folded its community outreach advisers into other roles.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This July, the policy changes California made to its landmark Behavioral Services Act took effect. When voters passed Proposition 1 in 2024, they approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to shift funds away from prevention and early intervention toward treatment beds. FAJ’s prevention funding, which supports half of their direct services, was reduced from $360,000 to zero dollars — the organization lost its licensed mental health professional and folded its community outreach advisers into other roles.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the special meeting for wellness worker leaders, where Pakbet could slow down and breathe, the thinning manifested in another way. Usually, nearly a dozen caregivers would be gearing up to knock on the doors of care homes in the East Bay, handing “know your rights” information to employees. The organization pays these workers a learning stipend to perform this outreach work. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the special meeting for wellness worker leaders, where Pakbet could slow down and breathe, the thinning manifested in another way. Usually, nearly a dozen caregivers would be gearing up to knock on the doors of care homes in the East Bay, handing “know your rights” information to employees. The organization pays these workers a learning stipend to perform this outreach work. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But when Pakbet looked around the office, he was one of the few caregivers who had stayed. Half of the group had chosen to spend their remaining years in the Philippines as the Trump administration pushes to aggressively crack down on immigration. Many said they were tired of feeling criminalized and undervalued, or, as one staff member of the organization said, an “America-doesn’t-deserve-me” mentality. Others said they missed moments with loved ones.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But when Pakbet looked around the office, he was one of the few caregivers who had stayed. Half of the group had chosen to spend their remaining years in the Philippines as the Trump administration pushes to aggressively crack down on immigration. Many said they were tired of feeling criminalized and undervalued, or, as one staff member of the organization said, an “America-doesn’t-deserve-me” mentality. Others said they missed moments with loved ones.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096177\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet listens to a talk on safety in sanctuary cities during an FAJ informational session for caregivers and their community. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096177\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet listens to a talk on safety in sanctuary cities during an FAJ informational session for caregivers and their community. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Along with other caregivers in this story, KQED is referring to Pakbet only by a nickname to allow them to speak openly about their mental health struggles and working conditions without jeopardizing their employment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Along with other caregivers in this story, KQED is referring to Pakbet only by a nickname to allow them to speak openly about their mental health struggles and working conditions without jeopardizing their employment.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pakbet understands the impulse to return home. Still, he said he was feeling especially tender.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Pakbet understands the impulse to return home. Still, he said he was feeling especially tender.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>His “lifeline,” FAJ’s worker organizer and seasoned activist Santi Tagle Buensuceso, had announced that she was also returning to her homeland.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>His “lifeline,” FAJ’s worker organizer and seasoned activist Santi Tagle Buensuceso, had announced that she was also returning to her homeland.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Whenever Pakbet struggled, instead of crying alone, he’d call Tagle Buensuceso. Sometimes, he’d voice his doubts about his ability to be a provider: “Am I a good father? Am I doing OK? Do I need to go back to the Philippines?” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Whenever Pakbet struggled, instead of crying alone, he’d call Tagle Buensuceso. Sometimes, he’d voice his doubts about his ability to be a provider: “Am I a good father? Am I doing OK? Do I need to go back to the Philippines?” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She would assure him that trying his best was good enough, that he was a great father and husband. She also realized caregivers like Pakbet needed more outlets and two years ago suggested FAJ host monthly Kapwa Circles for the wider community. A third space to unwind, to reflect, to create joy. \u003ca href=\"https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2026/webprogram/Paper61579.html\">Kapwa\u003c/a>, a Filipino value meaning interconnectedness, the recognition of yourself in each other.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She would assure him that trying his best was good enough, that he was a great father and husband. She also realized caregivers like Pakbet needed more outlets and two years ago suggested FAJ host monthly Kapwa Circles for the wider community. A third space to unwind, to reflect, to create joy. \u003ca href=\"https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2026/webprogram/Paper61579.html\">Kapwa\u003c/a>, a Filipino value meaning interconnectedness, the recognition of yourself in each other.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096176\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Community members practice a breathing and movement exercise as Santi Tagle Buensuceso reads a farewell card signed by the Filipino Advocates for Justice community during a surprise party held a week before her return to the Philippines.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096176\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Community members practice a breathing and movement exercise as Santi Tagle Buensuceso reads a farewell card signed by the Filipino Advocates for Justice community during a surprise party held a week before her return to the Philippines.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096171\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, right, says goodbye to Tagle Buensuceso during her surprise farewell party. To Pakbet, Buensuceso was like an older sister, someone who always looked out for and advocated for him.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096171\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, right, says goodbye to Tagle Buensuceso during her surprise farewell party. To Pakbet, Buensuceso was like an older sister, someone who always looked out for and advocated for him.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On a Friday evening in March, the young and old came together at FAJ’s Union City office to recreate a slice of the Philippines.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fried chicken from Jollibee piled high on paper plates, the sounds of people speaking Tagalog could be heard. Outside, a community garden where calamansi, a citrus fruit native to the Philippines, had been harvested for a jar of juice. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fried chicken from Jollibee piled high on paper plates, the sounds of people speaking Tagalog could be heard. Outside, a community garden where calamansi, a citrus fruit native to the Philippines, had been harvested for a jar of juice. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The event is what FAJ leadership describes as a “Filipino family party” or a Kapwa Circle. It has a different flavor each month and begins with a discussion of a social justice topic — sanctuary cities, for one, or voter registration — to invite people into FAJ’s organizing work. After the community conversation, they host an activity like bingo or mahjong. Always karaoke, whether planned or not. There is a rule of no chisme, but many will say gossip is their favorite part. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The event is what FAJ leadership describes as a “Filipino family party” or a Kapwa Circle. It has a different flavor each month and begins with a discussion of a social justice topic — sanctuary cities, for one, or voter registration — to invite people into FAJ’s organizing work. After the community conversation, they host an activity like bingo or mahjong. Always karaoke, whether planned or not. There is a rule of no chisme, but many will say gossip is their favorite part. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096174\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People dance the Pinoy Cha-Cha during the March Kapwa Circle at the offices of Filipino Advocates for Justice in Union City, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096174\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People dance the Pinoy Cha-Cha during the March Kapwa Circle at the offices of Filipino Advocates for Justice in Union City, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099855\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-2000x666.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-2048x682.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Cristy Ferrer, a Filipino Advocates for Justice organizer, left, and Ine, a caregiver and FAJ worker leader, lead a Pinoy Cha-Cha dance lesson. Right: Ine dances with another community member during the Kapwa Circle.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099855\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Cristy Ferrer, a Filipino Advocates for Justice organizer, left, and Ine, a caregiver and FAJ worker leader, lead a Pinoy Cha-Cha dance lesson. Right: Ine dances with another community member during the Kapwa Circle.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The evening was Tagle Buensuceso’s last circle. Pakbet was there, drawn to a space where he could laugh and smile naturally. “I don’t need to fake it,” he said. He must leave early, however, to care for a client. Pakbet is now a certified nurse assistant and works hourly one-on-one with clients, but stability has been elusive lately. Clients have entered hospital care or passed away. With fewer hours, he has no choice.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The evening was Tagle Buensuceso’s last circle. Pakbet was there, drawn to a space where he could laugh and smile naturally. “I don’t need to fake it,” he said. He must leave early, however, to care for a client. Pakbet is now a certified nurse assistant and works hourly one-on-one with clients, but stability has been elusive lately. Clients have entered hospital care or passed away. With fewer hours, he has no choice.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For now, he joined in celebrating Tagle Buensuceso. As a surprise, staff handed out printed lyrics of her favorite song, “Precious and Few” by the band Climax. Ine, a fellow caregiver worker leader, grabbed her guitar. She led the group for a sing-along to the ’70s soft-rock song about cherishing moments, and the metaphor was not lost.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For now, he joined in celebrating Tagle Buensuceso. As a surprise, staff handed out printed lyrics of her favorite song, “Precious and Few” by the band Climax. Ine, a fellow caregiver worker leader, grabbed her guitar. She led the group for a sing-along to the ’70s soft-rock song about cherishing moments, and the metaphor was not lost.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A mother of three, Ine came solo to the U.S. 15 years ago to provide her children a good college education, and has lived and worked at a care home ever since. As the home’s cook, Ine, 63, plates green pesto pasta and other colorful food with the intention to appeal to her dementia patients. She also administers medicine, having gone back to school to become a pharmacy technician, graduating with honors. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A mother of three, Ine came solo to the U.S. 15 years ago to provide her children a good college education, and has lived and worked at a care home ever since. As the home’s cook, Ine, 63, plates green pesto pasta and other colorful food with the intention to appeal to her dementia patients. She also administers medicine, having gone back to school to become a pharmacy technician, graduating with honors. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ectSMWvm4\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ectSMWvm4\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She said she talks with her husband and children via video every night, but misses them the most on holidays and birthdays. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Back in her room at the care home, she filled a balikbayan box for her son’s 41st birthday. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She lovingly selected Lacoste polo shirts, Ferrero Rocher chocolate and other items for the care package by hand, a proxy for her presence. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She lovingly selected Lacoste polo shirts, Ferrero Rocher chocolate and other items for the care package by hand, a proxy for her presence. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_06_VideoPortraits_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096610\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caregivers, community members and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice pose for portraits in the garden near a calamansi tree cared for by staff and harvested by caregivers for their food. Some chose gestures of wellness to express in their portraits. “There’s such a deep, immense healing power that caregivers have,” said Daisy Maxion, FAJ organizing director. “They remind us of what it means to be human.”\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_06_VideoPortraits_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096610\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caregivers, community members and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice pose for portraits in the garden near a calamansi tree cared for by staff and harvested by caregivers for their food. Some chose gestures of wellness to express in their portraits. “There’s such a deep, immense healing power that caregivers have,” said Daisy Maxion, FAJ organizing director. “They remind us of what it means to be human.”\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Every month, she makes sure she has time off for the Kapwa Circle. When she is tired, when the monotony of caregiving is grueling, she said being with other caregivers at FAJ and, better, using her musical talent to entertain, gives her the “strength to work for another day.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Every month, she makes sure she has time off for the Kapwa Circle. When she is tired, when the monotony of caregiving is grueling, she said being with other caregivers at FAJ and, better, using her musical talent to entertain, gives her the “strength to work for another day.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This evening, Ine passed the mic to Tagle Buensuceso, who said that before FAJ, she believed cigarettes were the only form of wellness. She left the group with one last piece of wisdom. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of your community.” Pakbet clapped. The music began. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This evening, Ine passed the mic to Tagle Buensuceso, who said that before FAJ, she believed cigarettes were the only form of wellness. She left the group with one last piece of wisdom. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of your community.” Pakbet clapped. The music began. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hands linked and people moved to the Cupid Shuffle, the Macarena, the Pinoy Cha-Cha. Ine was in her element, her first love, dance. The food whittled down. When a delivery worker stopped by to drop off more Spam musubi, she was met with a chorus of: “Stay. Take a plate.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Hands linked and people moved to the Cupid Shuffle, the Macarena, the Pinoy Cha-Cha. Ine was in her element, her first love, dance. The food whittled down. When a delivery worker stopped by to drop off more Spam musubi, she was met with a chorus of: “Stay. Take a plate.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096181\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13-1536x707.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: A community member of Filipino Advocates for Justice holds a flower in her hand as she poses in front of a backdrop. “If you’re able to breathe deeply and freely, if you’re able to sit with difficult emotions, if you’re able to get regular sleep and eat food that has some nutrition in it … you’re leaving room for creativity and imagination and the courage to reach out,” said Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness. “Nervous system regulation allows us to really know who we are.” Right: Two attendees wear Filipiniana dresses as they fill ttheir plates during a Kapwa Circle potluck.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096181\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: A community member of Filipino Advocates for Justice holds a flower in her hand as she poses in front of a backdrop. “If you’re able to breathe deeply and freely, if you’re able to sit with difficult emotions, if you’re able to get regular sleep and eat food that has some nutrition in it … you’re leaving room for creativity and imagination and the courage to reach out,” said Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness. “Nervous system regulation allows us to really know who we are.” Right: Two attendees wear Filipiniana dresses as they fill ttheir plates during a Kapwa Circle potluck.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There is power in knowing others share similar experiences, said Dr. Annalisa Enrile, a Filipina community organizer and professor at the USC School of Social Work.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Enrile has researched how \u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-27795-003.html\">communal care in Filipino immigrant communities\u003c/a> that draws on cultural practices can ease stress and improve mental well-being. “If you feel like you belong in a way that gives you agency, and reduces stigma,” she said, “then you’re more apt to ask for help.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There is power in knowing others share similar experiences, said Dr. Annalisa Enrile, a Filipina community organizer and professor at the USC School of Social Work.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Enrile has researched how \u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-27795-003.html\">communal care in Filipino immigrant communities\u003c/a> that draws on cultural practices can ease stress and improve mental well-being. “If you feel like you belong in a way that gives you agency, and reduces stigma,” she said, “then you’re more apt to ask for help.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>FAJ’s leaders, too, realized belonging was a way to build trust and encourage caregivers to open up, and it’s why they have prioritized connection as the heart of their programming. Recently, they were relieved to hear they received one year of bridge funding to bring back their mental health specialist as they figure out how to sustain their wellness and mental health services. A temporary bandage, executive director Geraldine Alcid said, but enough to keep going. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>FAJ’s leaders, too, realized belonging was a way to build trust and encourage caregivers to open up, and it’s why they have prioritized connection as the heart of their programming. Recently, they were relieved to hear they received one year of bridge funding to bring back their mental health specialist as they figure out how to sustain their wellness and mental health services. A temporary bandage, executive director Geraldine Alcid said, but enough to keep going. \u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096184\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ine near the San Francisco Bay, where she likes to go and recharge when she has time.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Despite the funding uncertainty, the group is sustained by a deep hope: Show up, and something might shift. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Despite the funding uncertainty, the group is sustained by a deep hope: Show up, and something might shift. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pakbet wasn’t sure if he’d come back to FAJ when Tagle Buensuceso left. He decided to keep showing up anyway, without a community elsewhere. Later that spring, he attended a picnic for caregivers at Contra Loma Regional Park in Contra Costa County. The stillness of the oak-tree-dotted hills contrasted with the chaos of the last few months. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Pakbet wasn’t sure if he’d come back to FAJ when Tagle Buensuceso left. He decided to keep showing up anyway, without a community elsewhere. Later that spring, he attended a picnic for caregivers at Contra Loma Regional Park in Contra Costa County. The stillness of the oak-tree-dotted hills contrasted with the chaos of the last few months. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One of his male clients was in the hospital, which meant Pakbet was not being paid to take care of him and was spending too much time alone at home in his apartment. He nearly missed a rent payment until he reached out to FAJ to help. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One of his male clients was in the hospital, which meant Pakbet was not being paid to take care of him and was spending too much time alone at home in his apartment. He nearly missed a rent payment until he reached out to FAJ to help. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096180\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, center, joins other caregivers and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice under the shade of a tree at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch for an annual picnic–an opportunity to connect with caregivers from across the Bay Area and enjoy nature. Caregivers practiced wellness stretching, shared food and reenacted moments from caregiving through a “Theater of the Oppressed” activity.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096180\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, center, joins other caregivers and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice under the shade of a tree at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch for an annual picnic–an opportunity to connect with caregivers from across the Bay Area and enjoy nature. Caregivers practiced wellness stretching, shared food and reenacted moments from caregiving through a “Theater of the Oppressed” activity.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Grateful for people, for peaceful nature, he set up his phone on a tripod to document the picnic. The wind was gentle. The wetlands glassy. A duck swam by and Pakbet paused to look at it, reminding him of balut, a delicacy with roots in his mother’s province. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Grateful for people, for peaceful nature, he set up his phone on a tripod to document the picnic. The wind was gentle. The wetlands glassy. A duck swam by and Pakbet paused to look at it, reminding him of balut, a delicacy with roots in his mother’s province. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The caregivers took turns sharing their favorite stretch before acting out a scripted scene from \u003cem>Theater of the Oppressed\u003c/em>, an approach that uses roleplay to explore solutions to social problems. Pakbet assumed the role of a care home owner. Drawing from his own experience, he joked about doling out “expensive” perfume from the Dollar Tree instead of actual dollars for overtime. People burst out laughing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The caregivers took turns sharing their favorite stretch before acting out a scripted scene from \u003cem>Theater of the Oppressed\u003c/em>, an approach that uses roleplay to explore solutions to social problems. Pakbet assumed the role of a care home owner. Drawing from his own experience, he joked about doling out “expensive” perfume from the Dollar Tree instead of actual dollars for overtime. People burst out laughing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pakbet reflected afterward and said he has never felt more anchored in his purpose to empower caregivers like himself. Next outreach, when he knocks on doors, before asking about rights, before handing them a booklet, he will first ask, “How are you doing?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Pakbet reflected afterward and said he has never felt more anchored in his purpose to empower caregivers like himself. Next outreach, when he knocks on doors, before asking about rights, before handing them a booklet, he will first ask, “How are you doing?”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was made possible in part by the Aging Beat workshop, convened by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was made possible in part by the Aging Beat workshop, convened by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Filipino Advocates for Justice creates an affirming space for them to rest and celebrate, so they can show up whole — not only for themselves but for others.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This project was produced jointly by KQED and CatchLight as part of the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://catchlight.io/mental-health\">\u003cem>mental health visual desk initiative.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet’s only obligation was to focus on himself. At least for one day. In the bright orange office of Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ), where he was attending a special wellness meeting for caregiver worker leaders like himself, he closed his eyes, relaxed his shoulders and breathed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You are seen. Inhale,” a staff member told the group. “You are valued. Exhale.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sometimes, Pakbet said he feels valued, like when he was a private aide for Teddy, a 98-year-old woman at the retirement home. They developed a relationship like a mother and son, and he would treat her so — cooking her homemade chicken feet adobo, or watching makeup tutorials with her online. He’d apply her lipstick, dress her in a gown and accompany her into the dining room, declaring, “The queen has arrived!” Besides bathing her and monitoring vitals, he saw it as his job to make her laugh.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099853\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-2000x666.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-1-2048x682.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness, leads a mental wellness breathing and massage exercise to open FAJ’s Kapwa Circle, a monthly community-building event, at the organization’s Union City location on March 6, 2026. Right: Pakbet (center) sings “Precious and Few” as the FAJ community honors FAJ worker organizer, Santi Tagle Buensuceso, during a surprise farewell party about one week before Buensuceso relocates back to the Philippines. Although Pakbet had a caregiving shift that evening, he joined the first half of the Kapwa Circle to attend the surprise going-away party for Buensuceso, who he considers an older sister. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096175\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-07-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the Filipino Advocates for Justice community practice a breathing and movement exercise during the organization’s March Kapwa Circle. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Other times, his body remembers: panic attacks from the chronic stress of unstable paychecks and exploitative employers, grief for his mother with cancer back home in the Philippines, whom he hasn’t hugged in a decade. The depression has led to insomnia and isolation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My world is work, home. I don’t have any trusted friends,” he said. “This is my life.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet, 54, said caregivers like him can feel overworked and undervalued. A Bay Area immigrant rights organization, FAJ creates an affirming space for them to rest and celebrate, so they can show up whole — not only for themselves but for others.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"994\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18-160x80.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-18-1536x763.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Center: Pakbet poses for a portrait in his Bay Area home on May 4, 2026, where he has lived with his family for six years. Previously, they lived in abusive situations, sharing cramped spaces and experiencing mistreatment. In 2020, with guidance from a friend at FAJ, they secured their own apartment. “We rent, and we’re very happy because my son has a room. I can cook now,” said Pakbet. “That’s our paradise.” Left and Right: A Bible and cross adorn the walls of Pakbet’s apartment. The demands of caregiving often weigh heavily on his mind, but he finds solace in his faith. “It’s hard, it’s very tiring,” he said. “Without my son, without my faith, I almost give up.” (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Leaning on Filipino cultural practices and intergenerational connection, mental health is woven into everything they do, from monthly gatherings and wellness clinics to everyday grounding techniques and artistic expression. Yet the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and statewide funding cuts to mental health services have threatened their prevention work, even as a shortage in \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/Goals/4\">care workers \u003c/a>looms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Filipinos are heavily represented in the healthcare workforce, according to \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7969854/\">research\u003c/a>, and many are paid to care for older adults. Respect for elders is a deeply embedded cultural value. As California’s population continues to age — \u003ca href=\"https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/\">about 25% will be an older adult by 2030\u003c/a> — caregivers will become even more essential. But isolation, burnout, racial discrimination, wage theft, and more can all contribute to mental health challenges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They are the first to take care of everybody else. And that’s done at the expense of their own bodies, their own emotional health,” said Geraldine Alcid, executive director of FAJ. “They deserve to take care of themselves, and they deserve rest.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1272\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096185\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-17-1536x977.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An old photograph of Pakbet and Teddy decorated with makeup and his written reflections. To help Teddy prepare for outings, Pakbet watched YouTube tutorials to learn makeup and helped her choose dresses and jewelry. At the care home, Pakbet recalls people asking him, “Where is your master?” but Teddy always defended him, responding that he was her family. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; instant photo made with and handwriting and decorations by Pakbet)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_05_Caregiver1_CookingAdobo_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096600\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet cooks chicken adobo at home. He de-stresses through cooking and finds joy in sharing his food. When caring for Teddy, a former client who was bedridden, he learned she had grown tired of retirement home meals and missed eating dim sum and chicken feet. He made her chicken feet adobo and began cooking for her. Over time, Pakbet says, she regained energy and began walking again. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED; handwriting by Pakbet)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>When Pakbet first arrived in the States alone over a decade ago, he lived and worked at a residential care home for older adults. He said his boss forced him to sleep on cardboard in the garage, and his paychecks didn’t reflect the long, exhausting hours. He also knew caregivers who died by suicide. Pakbet, at times, didn’t know if he’d make it. The reason he immigrated was to provide for his son’s education.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Pakbet said his Bible and a photo of his son got him through.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet’s experience is common. Yet cultural \u003ca href=\"https://filipinos4justice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-30-22-Filipino-Advocates-for-Justice-FAJ_-A-Mental-Health-Report-_-Kumusta-Tayo-2021.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">stigma\u003c/a> and shame can prevent Filipino immigrants from seeking support. “I’ve witnessed many times caregivers who need help. They get scared and hide in the dark,” Pakbet said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over a decade ago, Oakland-based community health center Asian Health Services referred an exploited caregiver who was anxious and stressed to FAJ. The organization realized others had similar stories, and it was the catalyst for it to focus efforts on prevention. In 2015, they launched a mental health support group for caregivers, many of them older, funded through a two-year Alameda County innovations grant. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>FAJ expanded its program with the help of an eight-year county contract. They hired a licensed mental health professional on staff, as well as three part-time community outreach specialists to facilitate mental health offerings rooted in culture. FAJ also created a Healing Advisory Committee that organizes free annual wellness clinics, featuring Filipino traditions such as hilot, a massage focused on releasing trauma. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096179\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-11-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet hangs a wet sheet to dry near the window in his Bay Area home. After years of living in the United States without access to an in-home washing machine, he set up a small washer in his apartment kitchen — a change he says has saved him time and eased the routines of daily life. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096178\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-10-1536x707.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Pakbet holds calamansi — a sweet and sour Filipino citrus with fragrant flowers — that he harvested from the office garden at Filipino Advocates for Justice for cooking. Right: Pakbet’s caregiving scrubs drape the living room couch where he sleeps so that his son can have the only bedroom in their apartment. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2023, a one-time state grant from the Department of Aging enabled FAJ to shift attention again to caregivers. They provided training on topics such as nutrition and managing grief, weaving in hands-on clinics for everyday self-care. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At first, caregivers expressed apprehensive curiosity. Then eventually, they requested chia seed pudding recipes and acupuncture, even the caregivers who feared needles. The organization also provided acupressure rings people could roll on their fingers whenever they needed to calm themselves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nervous system regulation is essential for moving from merely surviving to thriving, said Dr. Karen Villanueva, training lead and executive director of Kilusan Wellness. And for the majority of caregivers with little time or money, accessibility is key. “So much the better if you can tuck it in your pocket and take it out when you need it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This July, the policy changes California made to its landmark Behavioral Services Act took effect. When voters passed Proposition 1 in 2024, they approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to shift funds away from prevention and early intervention toward treatment beds. FAJ’s prevention funding, which supports half of their direct services, was reduced from $360,000 to zero dollars — the organization lost its licensed mental health professional and folded its community outreach advisers into other roles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the special meeting for wellness worker leaders, where Pakbet could slow down and breathe, the thinning manifested in another way. Usually, nearly a dozen caregivers would be gearing up to knock on the doors of care homes in the East Bay, handing “know your rights” information to employees. The organization pays these workers a learning stipend to perform this outreach work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when Pakbet looked around the office, he was one of the few caregivers who had stayed. Half of the group had chosen to spend their remaining years in the Philippines as the Trump administration pushes to aggressively crack down on immigration. Many said they were tired of feeling criminalized and undervalued, or, as one staff member of the organization said, an “America-doesn’t-deserve-me” mentality. Others said they missed moments with loved ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096177\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-09-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet listens to a talk on safety in sanctuary cities during an FAJ informational session for caregivers and their community. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Along with other caregivers in this story, KQED is referring to Pakbet only by a nickname to allow them to speak openly about their mental health struggles and working conditions without jeopardizing their employment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet understands the impulse to return home. Still, he said he was feeling especially tender.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His “lifeline,” FAJ’s worker organizer and seasoned activist Santi Tagle Buensuceso, had announced that she was also returning to her homeland.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whenever Pakbet struggled, instead of crying alone, he’d call Tagle Buensuceso. Sometimes, he’d voice his doubts about his ability to be a provider: “Am I a good father? Am I doing OK? Do I need to go back to the Philippines?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She would assure him that trying his best was good enough, that he was a great father and husband. She also realized caregivers like Pakbet needed more outlets and two years ago suggested FAJ host monthly Kapwa Circles for the wider community. A third space to unwind, to reflect, to create joy. \u003ca href=\"https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2026/webprogram/Paper61579.html\">Kapwa\u003c/a>, a Filipino value meaning interconnectedness, the recognition of yourself in each other.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096176\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-08-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Community members practice a breathing and movement exercise as Santi Tagle Buensuceso reads a farewell card signed by the Filipino Advocates for Justice community during a surprise party held a week before her return to the Philippines. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096171\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-03-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, right, says goodbye to Tagle Buensuceso during her surprise farewell party. To Pakbet, Buensuceso was like an older sister, someone who always looked out for and advocated for him. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>On a Friday evening in March, the young and old came together at FAJ’s Union City office to recreate a slice of the Philippines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fried chicken from Jollibee piled high on paper plates, the sounds of people speaking Tagalog could be heard. Outside, a community garden where calamansi, a citrus fruit native to the Philippines, had been harvested for a jar of juice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The event is what FAJ leadership describes as a “Filipino family party” or a Kapwa Circle. It has a different flavor each month and begins with a discussion of a social justice topic — sanctuary cities, for one, or voter registration — to invite people into FAJ’s organizing work. After the community conversation, they host an activity like bingo or mahjong. Always karaoke, whether planned or not. There is a rule of no chisme, but many will say gossip is their favorite part. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096174\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-06-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People dance the Pinoy Cha-Cha during the March Kapwa Circle at the offices of Filipino Advocates for Justice in Union City, California. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099855\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-2000x666.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-DIP-3-1-2048x682.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Cristy Ferrer, a Filipino Advocates for Justice organizer, left, and Ine, a caregiver and FAJ worker leader, lead a Pinoy Cha-Cha dance lesson. Right: Ine dances with another community member during the Kapwa Circle. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The evening was Tagle Buensuceso’s last circle. Pakbet was there, drawn to a space where he could laugh and smile naturally. “I don’t need to fake it,” he said. He must leave early, however, to care for a client. Pakbet is now a certified nurse assistant and works hourly one-on-one with clients, but stability has been elusive lately. Clients have entered hospital care or passed away. With fewer hours, he has no choice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For now, he joined in celebrating Tagle Buensuceso. As a surprise, staff handed out printed lyrics of her favorite song, “Precious and Few” by the band Climax. Ine, a fellow caregiver worker leader, grabbed her guitar. She led the group for a sing-along to the ’70s soft-rock song about cherishing moments, and the metaphor was not lost.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A mother of three, Ine came solo to the U.S. 15 years ago to provide her children a good college education, and has lived and worked at a care home ever since. As the home’s cook, Ine, 63, plates green pesto pasta and other colorful food with the intention to appeal to her dementia patients. She also administers medicine, having gone back to school to become a pharmacy technician, graduating with honors. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/U9ectSMWvm4'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/U9ectSMWvm4'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She said she talks with her husband and children via video every night, but misses them the most on holidays and birthdays. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Back in her room at the care home, she filled a balikbayan box for her son’s 41st birthday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She lovingly selected Lacoste polo shirts, Ferrero Rocher chocolate and other items for the care package by hand, a proxy for her presence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1513\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/FAJ_Video_06_VideoPortraits_TEST.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096610\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caregivers, community members and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice pose for portraits in the garden near a calamansi tree cared for by staff and harvested by caregivers for their food. Some chose gestures of wellness to express in their portraits. “There’s such a deep, immense healing power that caregivers have,” said Daisy Maxion, FAJ organizing director. “They remind us of what it means to be human.” (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Every month, she makes sure she has time off for the Kapwa Circle. When she is tired, when the monotony of caregiving is grueling, she said being with other caregivers at FAJ and, better, using her musical talent to entertain, gives her the “strength to work for another day.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This evening, Ine passed the mic to Tagle Buensuceso, who said that before FAJ, she believed cigarettes were the only form of wellness. She left the group with one last piece of wisdom. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of your community.” Pakbet clapped. The music began. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hands linked and people moved to the Cupid Shuffle, the Macarena, the Pinoy Cha-Cha. Ine was in her element, her first love, dance. The food whittled down. When a delivery worker stopped by to drop off more Spam musubi, she was met with a chorus of: “Stay. Take a plate.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096181\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-13-1536x707.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: A community member of Filipino Advocates for Justice holds a flower in her hand as she poses in front of a backdrop. “If you’re able to breathe deeply and freely, if you’re able to sit with difficult emotions, if you’re able to get regular sleep and eat food that has some nutrition in it … you’re leaving room for creativity and imagination and the courage to reach out,” said Karen Villanueva, executive director of Kilusan Wellness. “Nervous system regulation allows us to really know who we are.” Right: Two attendees wear Filipiniana dresses as they fill ttheir plates during a Kapwa Circle potluck. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>There is power in knowing others share similar experiences, said Dr. Annalisa Enrile, a Filipina community organizer and professor at the USC School of Social Work.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Enrile has researched how \u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-27795-003.html\">communal care in Filipino immigrant communities\u003c/a> that draws on cultural practices can ease stress and improve mental well-being. “If you feel like you belong in a way that gives you agency, and reduces stigma,” she said, “then you’re more apt to ask for help.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>FAJ’s leaders, too, realized belonging was a way to build trust and encourage caregivers to open up, and it’s why they have prioritized connection as the heart of their programming. Recently, they were relieved to hear they received one year of bridge funding to bring back their mental health specialist as they figure out how to sustain their wellness and mental health services. A temporary bandage, executive director Geraldine Alcid said, but enough to keep going. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096184\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-16-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ine near the San Francisco Bay, where she likes to go and recharge when she has time. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite the funding uncertainty, the group is sustained by a deep hope: Show up, and something might shift. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet wasn’t sure if he’d come back to FAJ when Tagle Buensuceso left. He decided to keep showing up anyway, without a community elsewhere. Later that spring, he attended a picnic for caregivers at Contra Loma Regional Park in Contra Costa County. The stillness of the oak-tree-dotted hills contrasted with the chaos of the last few months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of his male clients was in the hospital, which meant Pakbet was not being paid to take care of him and was spending too much time alone at home in his apartment. He nearly missed a rent payment until he reached out to FAJ to help. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1998\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096180\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260820-FAJCatchlight-FM-12-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pakbet, center, joins other caregivers and staff of Filipino Advocates for Justice under the shade of a tree at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch for an annual picnic–an opportunity to connect with caregivers from across the Bay Area and enjoy nature. Caregivers practiced wellness stretching, shared food and reenacted moments from caregiving through a “Theater of the Oppressed” activity. (Florence Middleton for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Grateful for people, for peaceful nature, he set up his phone on a tripod to document the picnic. The wind was gentle. The wetlands glassy. A duck swam by and Pakbet paused to look at it, reminding him of balut, a delicacy with roots in his mother’s province. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The caregivers took turns sharing their favorite stretch before acting out a scripted scene from \u003cem>Theater of the Oppressed\u003c/em>, an approach that uses roleplay to explore solutions to social problems. Pakbet assumed the role of a care home owner. Drawing from his own experience, he joked about doling out “expensive” perfume from the Dollar Tree instead of actual dollars for overtime. People burst out laughing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pakbet reflected afterward and said he has never felt more anchored in his purpose to empower caregivers like himself. Next outreach, when he knocks on doors, before asking about rights, before handing them a booklet, he will first ask, “How are you doing?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was made possible in part by the Aging Beat workshop, convened by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>In 2017, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/berkeley\">Berkeley\u003c/a> resident Ben Stein-Lobovits was celebrating his friend’s marriage when he noticed a headache and numbness in his tongue. His friends chalked the neurological symptoms up to a hangover. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the eve of his 32nd birthday, he was diagnosed with a brainstem glioma, an inoperable brain tumor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I like to say, ‘I-turned-30 tumor,’” Stein-Lobovits said, laughing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What followed is a period of his life that is hard to recall, he said, a “tornado” of appointments. The standard care of treatment was chemo and radiation — with a prognosis of six t0 10 months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099890\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099890\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ben Stein-Lobovits holds a childhood photo of himself with his father at his home in Berkeley on Sept. 15, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099891\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099891\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ben Stein-Lobovits sits outside his home in Berkeley on Sept. 15, 2026. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There has to be another solution,” Stein-Lobovits remembered saying at the time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He began reading papers and getting in touch with researchers, eventually leading him to a trial of an experimental treatment — dordaviprone, a drug that blocks survival signals in tumor cells. Nine years later, his tumor has shrunk by about 70%, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thanks to breakthroughs in cancer treatment, reduced smoking and improved detection, cancer rates declined by 35% between 1991 and 2024, according to a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research, the first and largest professional organization dedicated to preventing and curing all cancers. And over the last year alone, new scientific breakthroughs have reached patients in the form of new treatments for their specific disease. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, the FDA approved one new treatment device, expanded five previously approved therapies to include new cancer types and green-lit 11 new cancer therapeutics — including dordaviprone. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The report, which highlights Stein-Lobovits’ experience with the drug, also notes several advances in cancer prevention and detection — vaccines that prevent cancers in high-risk individuals and train immune systems to eliminate existing tumors; at-home test kits for HPV, a disease linked to cervical cancer; and AI-based tools to help doctors interpret routine medical imaging and carry out complex research tasks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite the progress, cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., killing about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db548.htm\">610,000\u003c/a> people annually. An estimated 2.1 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2026, and this number is projected to rise to 2.5 million by 2050, according to AACR findings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cancer’s risks are not distributed equally — racial and ethnic minority groups and other medically underserved populations in the U.S. continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of the disease. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even the strongest research system falls short if patients cannot benefit from its advances,” the report states. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite significant strides, researchers warned of a major threat to cancer research: another wave of funding cuts following policy changes from the Trump administration. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A report from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/cost-trump-administrations-attacks-research-funding\">Brennan Center for Justice\u003c/a> says the administration’s actions — including the decision to remove all members of the board of advisers to the National Science Foundation — have caused grantmaking to “slow to a crawl” since the start of this fiscal year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In early 2025, the administration cut or froze more than 2,200 active National Institutes of Health research grants and withdrew billions of dollars in previously awarded research funding, according to the AACR report. Then, the president’s budget request for fiscal year 2027, released in April 2026, proposed a $5 billion reduction in overall NIH funding, compared with the previous year’s levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance?utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list&utm_medium=email&utm_source=federalregister.gov#addresses\">rule\u003c/a> proposed by the Office of Management and Budget to overhaul federal grantmaking could “inject political considerations into funding decisions and broaden federal agencies’ authority to terminate grants for reasons unrelated to scientific merit or recipient performance,” the report says. This could further reduce funding if the Senate’s decision to block the rule is allowed to expire in December. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12040284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay in San Francisco on April 24, 2025. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Without strong federal support for medical research, the U.S. risks losing its position as a global leader in scientific discovery, innovation and the development of lifesaving cancer treatments, the report warns.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dr. Iona Cheng, a cancer epidemiologist at UCSF and a co-investigator of the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, said that the federal action “significantly impacts our ability to continue and sustain important cancer research.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stein-Lobovits, now 40, credits cutting-edge research with allowing him to live. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s allowed me to watch my girls grow up,” he said. “It has given me so much hope.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He advised other survivors going through their own cancer journeys to “not take no for an answer.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Advocate for yourself, question everything, and don’t be hard on yourself,” Stein-Lobovits said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dr. Iona Cheng, a cancer epidemiologist at UCSF and a co-investigator of the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, said that the federal action “significantly impacts our ability to continue and sustain important cancer research.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stein-Lobovits, now 40, credits cutting-edge research with allowing him to live. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He advised other survivors going through their own cancer journeys to “not take no for an answer.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Advocate for yourself, question everything, and don’t be hard on yourself,” Stein-Lobovits said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A new report reviews major advances in cancer research — and warns of the impact of federal funding cuts.",
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"title": "Cancer Research Saved This Berkeley Resident. Its Future May Depend on Trump | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>In 2017, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/berkeley\">Berkeley\u003c/a> resident Ben Stein-Lobovits was celebrating his friend’s marriage when he noticed a headache and numbness in his tongue. His friends chalked the neurological symptoms up to a hangover. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the eve of his 32nd birthday, he was diagnosed with a brainstem glioma, an inoperable brain tumor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I like to say, ‘I-turned-30 tumor,’” Stein-Lobovits said, laughing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What followed is a period of his life that is hard to recall, he said, a “tornado” of appointments. The standard care of treatment was chemo and radiation — with a prognosis of six t0 10 months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099890\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099890\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ben Stein-Lobovits holds a childhood photo of himself with his father at his home in Berkeley on Sept. 15, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12099891\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099891\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260915-CANCERSURVIVOR-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ben Stein-Lobovits sits outside his home in Berkeley on Sept. 15, 2026. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There has to be another solution,” Stein-Lobovits remembered saying at the time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He began reading papers and getting in touch with researchers, eventually leading him to a trial of an experimental treatment — dordaviprone, a drug that blocks survival signals in tumor cells. Nine years later, his tumor has shrunk by about 70%, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thanks to breakthroughs in cancer treatment, reduced smoking and improved detection, cancer rates declined by 35% between 1991 and 2024, according to a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research, the first and largest professional organization dedicated to preventing and curing all cancers. And over the last year alone, new scientific breakthroughs have reached patients in the form of new treatments for their specific disease. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, the FDA approved one new treatment device, expanded five previously approved therapies to include new cancer types and green-lit 11 new cancer therapeutics — including dordaviprone. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The report, which highlights Stein-Lobovits’ experience with the drug, also notes several advances in cancer prevention and detection — vaccines that prevent cancers in high-risk individuals and train immune systems to eliminate existing tumors; at-home test kits for HPV, a disease linked to cervical cancer; and AI-based tools to help doctors interpret routine medical imaging and carry out complex research tasks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite the progress, cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., killing about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db548.htm\">610,000\u003c/a> people annually. An estimated 2.1 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2026, and this number is projected to rise to 2.5 million by 2050, according to AACR findings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cancer’s risks are not distributed equally — racial and ethnic minority groups and other medically underserved populations in the U.S. continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of the disease. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even the strongest research system falls short if patients cannot benefit from its advances,” the report states. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite significant strides, researchers warned of a major threat to cancer research: another wave of funding cuts following policy changes from the Trump administration. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A report from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/cost-trump-administrations-attacks-research-funding\">Brennan Center for Justice\u003c/a> says the administration’s actions — including the decision to remove all members of the board of advisers to the National Science Foundation — have caused grantmaking to “slow to a crawl” since the start of this fiscal year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In early 2025, the administration cut or froze more than 2,200 active National Institutes of Health research grants and withdrew billions of dollars in previously awarded research funding, according to the AACR report. Then, the president’s budget request for fiscal year 2027, released in April 2026, proposed a $5 billion reduction in overall NIH funding, compared with the previous year’s levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance?utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list&utm_medium=email&utm_source=federalregister.gov#addresses\">rule\u003c/a> proposed by the Office of Management and Budget to overhaul federal grantmaking could “inject political considerations into funding decisions and broaden federal agencies’ authority to terminate grants for reasons unrelated to scientific merit or recipient performance,” the report says. This could further reduce funding if the Senate’s decision to block the rule is allowed to expire in December. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12040284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250424_UCSFFile_GC-16_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay in San Francisco on April 24, 2025. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Without strong federal support for medical research, the U.S. risks losing its position as a global leader in scientific discovery, innovation and the development of lifesaving cancer treatments, the report warns.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dr. Iona Cheng, a cancer epidemiologist at UCSF and a co-investigator of the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, said that the federal action “significantly impacts our ability to continue and sustain important cancer research.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stein-Lobovits, now 40, credits cutting-edge research with allowing him to live. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s allowed me to watch my girls grow up,” he said. “It has given me so much hope.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He advised other survivors going through their own cancer journeys to “not take no for an answer.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Advocate for yourself, question everything, and don’t be hard on yourself,” Stein-Lobovits said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-joins-suit-over-trump-rule-making-it-harder-for-immigrants-to-get-green-cards",
"title": "California Joins Suit Over Trump Rule Making It Harder for Immigrants to Get Green Cards",
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"headTitle": "California Joins Suit Over Trump Rule Making It Harder for Immigrants to Get Green Cards | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>California and Bay Area counties sued the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/president-donald-trump\">Trump administration\u003c/a> Monday over its latest attempt to restrict immigration by expanding the ability of enforcement agents to deny entry into the U.S. based on wealth.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Companion lawsuits filed in New York federal court Monday by a nationwide coalition of state and local law enforcement officials allege that a rule change set to take effect Friday would unlawfully upend years of immigration policy, and could have reverberating negative effects on local medical systems, schools and economies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is a cruel policy designed to force immigrant families to forgo healthcare and food assistance programs out of fear that using them could jeopardize their immigration status,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said, announcing the suits alongside San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti. “The Trump administration cannot take this unlawful action.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12063671\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks to reporters as Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, left, and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, right, listen outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lawsuits challenge the Department of Homeland Security’s expansion of whom it deems a “public charge,” a term used to describe a noncitizen who relies primarily on government benefits. U.S. immigration law allows the government to deny a visa or green card based on that policy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In public charge determinations historically, DHS has been able to consider only cash-assistance programs and long-term institutional care through Medi-Cal. Under the new “public charge” rule \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/20/2026-14539/public-charge-ground-of-inadmissibility\">issued\u003c/a> in July, however, they’ll also be able to account for income-based benefits, like Medicaid, food and housing assistance, and free and reduced-price school lunch programs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration tried to similarly expand the scope of public benefits it considered in 2019, but that effort was blocked by courts across the country until the Biden administration rescinded the rule in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than 20 states and Washington, D.C, joined the suit brought by Bonta and New York state Attorney Letitia James, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is leading a separate lawsuit brought by a coalition of cities including San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle, as well as Santa Clara, California, and King County, Washington.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta said Monday that the expanded rule could allow immigration officials to unlawfully consider whether children who are citizens in mixed-status families receive Medicaid or food benefits such as free or reduced-price school lunch when deciding if their parent is a “public charge.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The rule treats all of these as a reason to deny immigrants a green card, and it goes even further,” Bonta said. “The benefits that child lawfully receives can be held against their parents. The administration wants to punish immigrant families for using benefits that their children are legally entitled to, that their children rely on, are eligible for.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DHS has \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-14539/p-1537\">predicted\u003c/a> that at least 10% of people in mixed-status households will disenroll from public benefit programs as a result. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">City Attorney David Chiu speaks during a press conference at the parking lot on 3rd and Harrison streets in San Francisco on May 11, 2026, to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case Yick Wo v. Hopkins. (Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If thousands leave Medi-Cal, SNAP and CalFresh programs, it could cost San Francisco millions in federal reimbursements alone, Chiu said Monday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This rule will strain San Francisco’s Human Services Agency, our Department of Public Health, Disability and Aging Services, and other city departments who serve our most vulnerable,” Chiu said. “We are asking the court to vacate this rule, to permanently block its enforcement, and to affirm what the law has long made clear.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Francisco will always welcome immigrants from every corner of the world,” he continued. “We will always defend their right to live here safely, with dignity, and without fear.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jsmall\">\u003cem>Julie Small\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The lawsuits challenge the Department of Homeland Security’s expansion of whom it deems a “public charge,” a term used to describe a noncitizen who relies primarily on government benefits. U.S. immigration law allows the government to deny a visa or green card based on that policy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Trump administration tried to similarly expand the scope of public benefits it considered in 2019, but that effort was blocked by courts across the country until the Biden administration rescinded the rule in 2022.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More than 20 states and Washington, D.C, joined the suit brought by Bonta and New York state Attorney Letitia James, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is leading a separate lawsuit brought by a coalition of cities including San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle, as well as Santa Clara, California, and King County, Washington.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bonta said Monday that the expanded rule could allow immigration officials to unlawfully consider whether children who are citizens in mixed-status families receive Medicaid or food benefits such as free or reduced-price school lunch when deciding if their parent is a “public charge.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The rule treats all of these as a reason to deny immigrants a green card, and it goes even further,” Bonta said. “The benefits that child lawfully receives can be held against their parents. The administration wants to punish immigrant families for using benefits that their children are legally entitled to, that their children rely on, are eligible for.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If thousands leave Medi-Cal, SNAP and CalFresh programs, it could cost San Francisco millions in federal reimbursements alone, Chiu said Monday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This rule will strain San Francisco’s Human Services Agency, our Department of Public Health, Disability and Aging Services, and other city departments who serve our most vulnerable,” Chiu said. “We are asking the court to vacate this rule, to permanently block its enforcement, and to affirm what the law has long made clear.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“San Francisco will always welcome immigrants from every corner of the world,” he continued. “We will always defend their right to live here safely, with dignity, and without fear.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>California and Bay Area counties sued the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/president-donald-trump\">Trump administration\u003c/a> Monday over its latest attempt to restrict immigration by expanding the ability of enforcement agents to deny entry into the U.S. based on wealth.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Companion lawsuits filed in New York federal court Monday by a nationwide coalition of state and local law enforcement officials allege that a rule change set to take effect Friday would unlawfully upend years of immigration policy, and could have reverberating negative effects on local medical systems, schools and economies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is a cruel policy designed to force immigrant families to forgo healthcare and food assistance programs out of fear that using them could jeopardize their immigration status,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said, announcing the suits alongside San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti. “The Trump administration cannot take this unlawful action.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12063671\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks to reporters as Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, left, and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, right, listen outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lawsuits challenge the Department of Homeland Security’s expansion of whom it deems a “public charge,” a term used to describe a noncitizen who relies primarily on government benefits. U.S. immigration law allows the government to deny a visa or green card based on that policy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In public charge determinations historically, DHS has been able to consider only cash-assistance programs and long-term institutional care through Medi-Cal. Under the new “public charge” rule \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/20/2026-14539/public-charge-ground-of-inadmissibility\">issued\u003c/a> in July, however, they’ll also be able to account for income-based benefits, like Medicaid, food and housing assistance, and free and reduced-price school lunch programs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration tried to similarly expand the scope of public benefits it considered in 2019, but that effort was blocked by courts across the country until the Biden administration rescinded the rule in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than 20 states and Washington, D.C, joined the suit brought by Bonta and New York state Attorney Letitia James, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is leading a separate lawsuit brought by a coalition of cities including San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle, as well as Santa Clara, California, and King County, Washington.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta said Monday that the expanded rule could allow immigration officials to unlawfully consider whether children who are citizens in mixed-status families receive Medicaid or food benefits such as free or reduced-price school lunch when deciding if their parent is a “public charge.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The rule treats all of these as a reason to deny immigrants a green card, and it goes even further,” Bonta said. “The benefits that child lawfully receives can be held against their parents. The administration wants to punish immigrant families for using benefits that their children are legally entitled to, that their children rely on, are eligible for.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DHS has \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-14539/p-1537\">predicted\u003c/a> that at least 10% of people in mixed-status households will disenroll from public benefit programs as a result. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/20260511-YICKWOCOMMEMORATION-JY-05-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">City Attorney David Chiu speaks during a press conference at the parking lot on 3rd and Harrison streets in San Francisco on May 11, 2026, to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case Yick Wo v. Hopkins. (Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If thousands leave Medi-Cal, SNAP and CalFresh programs, it could cost San Francisco millions in federal reimbursements alone, Chiu said Monday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This rule will strain San Francisco’s Human Services Agency, our Department of Public Health, Disability and Aging Services, and other city departments who serve our most vulnerable,” Chiu said. “We are asking the court to vacate this rule, to permanently block its enforcement, and to affirm what the law has long made clear.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Francisco will always welcome immigrants from every corner of the world,” he continued. “We will always defend their right to live here safely, with dignity, and without fear.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jsmall\">\u003cem>Julie Small\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>When a patient comes into Dr. Miguel San Miguel Benavides’ exam room at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-general-hospital\">San Francisco General Hospital\u003c/a> with a cough, a rash, diabetes or high blood pressure, he knows where to start. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But over the past year, people have been bringing him a problem he feels less equipped to tackle as a primary care physician: their fear over immigration enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Among other actions, the Trump administration has rolled back protections keeping immigration agents away from healthcare facilities and sought to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/immigrant-health/potential-implications-of-the-new-medicaid-data-sharing-agreement-between-cms-and-ice/\">give ICE access to Medicaid data\u003c/a>. Since then, San Miguel and colleagues at SF General who work with immigrant patients say they’ve watched with a sense of powerlessness as people avoid or delay treatment, and as mounting stress exacerbates their underlying conditions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://phr.org/news/ice-tactics-and-deportation-fears-limit-access-to-health-care-for-children-of-immigrants-survey/\">2025 survey\u003c/a> of healthcare workers who serve immigrants echoes that experience: Among hundreds of respondents across 30 states, 84% said patient visits were down substantially; many said their ability to provide preventive care and manage chronic conditions suffered.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097362\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Miguel San Miguel Benavides, a resident physician at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, poses for a portrait at the hospital on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, a small study from UCSF suggests that immigration policies can force some doctors to practice in a way that’s at odds with their sense of moral or professional duty, taking a toll on them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The experience has become routine for San Miguel as he finishes his residency.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is the type of care that I always wanted to give,” he said of working with patients who, like him, immigrated to this country. “But I think part of that has become realizing that the amount of support we can give isn’t necessarily enough.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers call that kind of ethical conflict “\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2012/11/21/165663154/moral-injury-the-psychological-wounds-of-war\">moral injury\u003c/a>,” a term coined by a Department of Veterans Affairs psychiatrist working with Vietnam War veterans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dr. Marlene Martín, a UCSF clinical medicine professor, was inspired to do the study last summer, around the time ICE was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12049326/as-ice-operations-expand-how-are-immigrant-allies-responding\">conducting widespread raids\u003c/a> in Los Angeles. A colleague who works with immigrant patients told her no one had shown up to their appointment that day at SF General. If that was happening in San Francisco, where there was relatively little high-profile ICE activity at the time, Martín wondered what doctors elsewhere were seeing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So she and her colleagues interviewed 38 primary care doctors in 13 states about their experiences caring for immigrant patients in this climate. They recently published their findings \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2851433\">in JAMA Internal Medicine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The interviews confirmed that doctors across the country were seeing patients miss appointments, with some suffering more from chronic diseases as their treatment lapsed. For instance, Martín said, one interviewee described a patient whose diabetes had spiraled out of control because his son, who’d been driving him to his appointments, had been arrested by ICE. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You can’t fix that,” she said. “You can’t address that in a clinical visit.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some doctors told the researchers they were afraid to even ask their patients how they were doing, “because it would open this whole topic that they didn’t know how to answer. They didn’t know how to make it better,” Martín said. “In medicine we’re used to being able to address things that patients are talking about and to help them get better.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One doctor described to researchers the kind of dilemmas they face, given fears about encountering immigration agents in hospitals: “Would I rather have [my patient] be at home while they’re having substernal, crushing chest pain vs. what are the costs and benefits of going [to the hospital]?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097364\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In some cases, the interviewees reported their clinics had stopped accepting undocumented patients altogether, for fear of losing federal funding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Those experiences, day after day, are what can lead to moral injury.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What surprised study co-author Dr. Alicia Fernandez was how much doctors changed the way they practiced in response to immigration policy changes. “What we saw was many physicians and practices, entire practices, altering their patterns of care,” the UCSF professor and SF General primary care doctor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some transitioned to telehealth appointments. Others switched medications so patients didn’t have to go into the clinic or pharmacy as often. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Fernandez said the changes can come at a cost — both for the patients and the doctors who care for them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1421\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097363\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED-1536x1091.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Miguel San Miguel Benavides, a resident physician at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and Alicia Fernandez, a UCSF professor and general internist at SF General, talk at the hospital on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We definitely feel that our patients are getting worse, and we feel that the care that we are giving is an inferior form of care, and that’s why it’s associated with moral distress,” Fernandez said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She points to a recent experience with an undocumented patient who’d avoided being seen out of fear. “He came in already having damage from his diabetes,” she said. “That’s a terrible feeling.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This kind of distress isn’t just bad for individual doctors. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Moral injury can contribute to burnout,” said Dr. Robert Pearl, a physician and Stanford professor who served as CEO of the Permanente Medical Group for nearly two decades. And data show burnout affects doctors’ quality of care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the patient before you required all this extra work, has had this added fear, had all these challenges,” he said, referencing the study, “when the clinician sees you, he or she may not be as good and sharp as you would like them to be.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099231\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Individuals walk towards the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Burnout and moral injury can also lead doctors and other healthcare workers to leave their professions, he said, with particularly dire effects in primary care. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We already have a shortage,” he said, so “when you need a primary care doctor, that individual might not be there. And we’re certainly seeing that in many communities across the United States, where it’s almost impossible to find a primary care physician with an open panel.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For doctors in the study who were themselves immigrants, the distress was compounded. That has broad implications given that almost half of the country’s internal medicine doctors are foreign-born, according to \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2852745?guestAccessKey=da3ba888-5ff2-456f-9d94-b301cf5d2884&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=081226\">a study\u003c/a> released last month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the UCSF study on moral injury is small and qualitative, it points to ways healthcare institutions can support staff in an increasingly difficult environment. Doctors whose clinics protected patients’ immigration-related information and expanded telehealth, for example, described ways those changes helped them care for patients.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A sense of powerlessness contributed to the moral distress doctors in the study felt. Carolyn Dewa, a psychiatry and behavioral medicine professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine, said social support can protect against that. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you feel supported by colleagues and peers, or you feel supported by supervisors,” she said, “if people are not isolated from one another but feel that they’re part of a group, it also is protective.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The doctors interviewed for the study also described the importance of having a sense of agency. “This paper pointed out that feeling like you could take an active role does help mitigate some of the distress,” said Dr. Anne Rosenthal, who runs the adult primary care clinic at SF General, where Fernandez and San Miguel work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Her clinic has tried to do that in part by training staff on what to do if immigration enforcement shows up and proactively educating patients about what they need to do to keep Medi-Cal coverage as state enrollment rules change.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/over-two-million-more-californians-projected-to-lack-health-insurance-by-2030/\">UC Berkeley Labor Center projects\u003c/a> half of undocumented residents in California under age 65 could be uninsured by 2030, double the rate now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We live in fear of losing our patients, because we know that their physical health will suffer, the health of their kids will suffer, and the health of the community will suffer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is the type of care that I always wanted to give,” he said of working with patients who, like him, immigrated to this country. “But I think part of that has become realizing that the amount of support we can give isn’t necessarily enough.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dr. Marlene Martín, a UCSF clinical medicine professor, was inspired to do the study last summer, around the time ICE was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12049326/as-ice-operations-expand-how-are-immigrant-allies-responding\">conducting widespread raids\u003c/a> in Los Angeles. A colleague who works with immigrant patients told her no one had shown up to their appointment that day at SF General. If that was happening in San Francisco, where there was relatively little high-profile ICE activity at the time, Martín wondered what doctors elsewhere were seeing. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The interviews confirmed that doctors across the country were seeing patients miss appointments, with some suffering more from chronic diseases as their treatment lapsed. For instance, Martín said, one interviewee described a patient whose diabetes had spiraled out of control because his son, who’d been driving him to his appointments, had been arrested by ICE. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The interviews confirmed that doctors across the country were seeing patients miss appointments, with some suffering more from chronic diseases as their treatment lapsed. For instance, Martín said, one interviewee described a patient whose diabetes had spiraled out of control because his son, who’d been driving him to his appointments, had been arrested by ICE. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some doctors told the researchers they were afraid to even ask their patients how they were doing, “because it would open this whole topic that they didn’t know how to answer. They didn’t know how to make it better,” Martín said. “In medicine we’re used to being able to address things that patients are talking about and to help them get better.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One doctor described to researchers the kind of dilemmas they face, given fears about encountering immigration agents in hospitals: “Would I rather have [my patient] be at home while they’re having substernal, crushing chest pain vs. what are the costs and benefits of going [to the hospital]?” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What surprised study co-author Dr. Alicia Fernandez was how much doctors changed the way they practiced in response to immigration policy changes. “What we saw was many physicians and practices, entire practices, altering their patterns of care,” the UCSF professor and SF General primary care doctor said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We definitely feel that our patients are getting worse, and we feel that the care that we are giving is an inferior form of care, and that’s why it’s associated with moral distress,” Fernandez said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She points to a recent experience with an undocumented patient who’d avoided being seen out of fear. “He came in already having damage from his diabetes,” she said. “That’s a terrible feeling.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If the patient before you required all this extra work, has had this added fear, had all these challenges,” he said, referencing the study, “when the clinician sees you, he or she may not be as good and sharp as you would like them to be.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Burnout and moral injury can also lead doctors and other healthcare workers to leave their professions, he said, with particularly dire effects in primary care. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We already have a shortage,” he said, so “when you need a primary care doctor, that individual might not be there. And we’re certainly seeing that in many communities across the United States, where it’s almost impossible to find a primary care physician with an open panel.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We already have a shortage,” he said, so “when you need a primary care doctor, that individual might not be there. And we’re certainly seeing that in many communities across the United States, where it’s almost impossible to find a primary care physician with an open panel.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For doctors in the study who were themselves immigrants, the distress was compounded. That has broad implications given that almost half of the country’s internal medicine doctors are foreign-born, according to \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2852745?guestAccessKey=da3ba888-5ff2-456f-9d94-b301cf5d2884&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=081226\">a study\u003c/a> released last month. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For doctors in the study who were themselves immigrants, the distress was compounded. That has broad implications given that almost half of the country’s internal medicine doctors are foreign-born, according to \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2852745?guestAccessKey=da3ba888-5ff2-456f-9d94-b301cf5d2884&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=081226\">a study\u003c/a> released last month. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While the UCSF study on moral injury is small and qualitative, it points to ways healthcare institutions can support staff in an increasingly difficult environment. Doctors whose clinics protected patients’ immigration-related information and expanded telehealth, for example, described ways those changes helped them care for patients.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While the UCSF study on moral injury is small and qualitative, it points to ways healthcare institutions can support staff in an increasingly difficult environment. Doctors whose clinics protected patients’ immigration-related information and expanded telehealth, for example, described ways those changes helped them care for patients.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A sense of powerlessness contributed to the moral distress doctors in the study felt. Carolyn Dewa, a psychiatry and behavioral medicine professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine, said social support can protect against that. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you feel supported by colleagues and peers, or you feel supported by supervisors,” she said, “if people are not isolated from one another but feel that they’re part of a group, it also is protective.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The doctors interviewed for the study also described the importance of having a sense of agency. “This paper pointed out that feeling like you could take an active role does help mitigate some of the distress,” said Dr. Anne Rosenthal, who runs the adult primary care clinic at SF General, where Fernandez and San Miguel work. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The doctors interviewed for the study also described the importance of having a sense of agency. “This paper pointed out that feeling like you could take an active role does help mitigate some of the distress,” said Dr. Anne Rosenthal, who runs the adult primary care clinic at SF General, where Fernandez and San Miguel work. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Her clinic has tried to do that in part by training staff on what to do if immigration enforcement shows up and proactively educating patients about what they need to do to keep Medi-Cal coverage as state enrollment rules change.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Her clinic has tried to do that in part by training staff on what to do if immigration enforcement shows up and proactively educating patients about what they need to do to keep Medi-Cal coverage as state enrollment rules change.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/over-two-million-more-californians-projected-to-lack-health-insurance-by-2030/\">UC Berkeley Labor Center projects\u003c/a> half of undocumented residents in California under age 65 could be uninsured by 2030, double the rate now.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/over-two-million-more-californians-projected-to-lack-health-insurance-by-2030/\">UC Berkeley Labor Center projects\u003c/a> half of undocumented residents in California under age 65 could be uninsured by 2030, double the rate now.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We live in fear of losing our patients, because we know that their physical health will suffer, the health of their kids will suffer, and the health of the community will suffer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is making it harder for primary care doctors who work with immigrant patients to do their jobs, a UCSF study finds.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>When a patient comes into Dr. Miguel San Miguel Benavides’ exam room at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-general-hospital\">San Francisco General Hospital\u003c/a> with a cough, a rash, diabetes or high blood pressure, he knows where to start. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But over the past year, people have been bringing him a problem he feels less equipped to tackle as a primary care physician: their fear over immigration enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Among other actions, the Trump administration has rolled back protections keeping immigration agents away from healthcare facilities and sought to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/immigrant-health/potential-implications-of-the-new-medicaid-data-sharing-agreement-between-cms-and-ice/\">give ICE access to Medicaid data\u003c/a>. Since then, San Miguel and colleagues at SF General who work with immigrant patients say they’ve watched with a sense of powerlessness as people avoid or delay treatment, and as mounting stress exacerbates their underlying conditions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://phr.org/news/ice-tactics-and-deportation-fears-limit-access-to-health-care-for-children-of-immigrants-survey/\">2025 survey\u003c/a> of healthcare workers who serve immigrants echoes that experience: Among hundreds of respondents across 30 states, 84% said patient visits were down substantially; many said their ability to provide preventive care and manage chronic conditions suffered.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097362\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-5-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Miguel San Miguel Benavides, a resident physician at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, poses for a portrait at the hospital on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, a small study from UCSF suggests that immigration policies can force some doctors to practice in a way that’s at odds with their sense of moral or professional duty, taking a toll on them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The experience has become routine for San Miguel as he finishes his residency.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is the type of care that I always wanted to give,” he said of working with patients who, like him, immigrated to this country. “But I think part of that has become realizing that the amount of support we can give isn’t necessarily enough.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers call that kind of ethical conflict “\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2012/11/21/165663154/moral-injury-the-psychological-wounds-of-war\">moral injury\u003c/a>,” a term coined by a Department of Veterans Affairs psychiatrist working with Vietnam War veterans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dr. Marlene Martín, a UCSF clinical medicine professor, was inspired to do the study last summer, around the time ICE was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12049326/as-ice-operations-expand-how-are-immigrant-allies-responding\">conducting widespread raids\u003c/a> in Los Angeles. A colleague who works with immigrant patients told her no one had shown up to their appointment that day at SF General. If that was happening in San Francisco, where there was relatively little high-profile ICE activity at the time, Martín wondered what doctors elsewhere were seeing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So she and her colleagues interviewed 38 primary care doctors in 13 states about their experiences caring for immigrant patients in this climate. They recently published their findings \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2851433\">in JAMA Internal Medicine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The interviews confirmed that doctors across the country were seeing patients miss appointments, with some suffering more from chronic diseases as their treatment lapsed. For instance, Martín said, one interviewee described a patient whose diabetes had spiraled out of control because his son, who’d been driving him to his appointments, had been arrested by ICE. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You can’t fix that,” she said. “You can’t address that in a clinical visit.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some doctors told the researchers they were afraid to even ask their patients how they were doing, “because it would open this whole topic that they didn’t know how to answer. They didn’t know how to make it better,” Martín said. “In medicine we’re used to being able to address things that patients are talking about and to help them get better.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One doctor described to researchers the kind of dilemmas they face, given fears about encountering immigration agents in hospitals: “Would I rather have [my patient] be at home while they’re having substernal, crushing chest pain vs. what are the costs and benefits of going [to the hospital]?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097364\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-10-KQED-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In some cases, the interviewees reported their clinics had stopped accepting undocumented patients altogether, for fear of losing federal funding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Those experiences, day after day, are what can lead to moral injury.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What surprised study co-author Dr. Alicia Fernandez was how much doctors changed the way they practiced in response to immigration policy changes. “What we saw was many physicians and practices, entire practices, altering their patterns of care,” the UCSF professor and SF General primary care doctor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some transitioned to telehealth appointments. Others switched medications so patients didn’t have to go into the clinic or pharmacy as often. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Fernandez said the changes can come at a cost — both for the patients and the doctors who care for them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1421\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097363\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-8-KQED-1536x1091.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Miguel San Miguel Benavides, a resident physician at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and Alicia Fernandez, a UCSF professor and general internist at SF General, talk at the hospital on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We definitely feel that our patients are getting worse, and we feel that the care that we are giving is an inferior form of care, and that’s why it’s associated with moral distress,” Fernandez said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She points to a recent experience with an undocumented patient who’d avoided being seen out of fear. “He came in already having damage from his diabetes,” she said. “That’s a terrible feeling.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This kind of distress isn’t just bad for individual doctors. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Moral injury can contribute to burnout,” said Dr. Robert Pearl, a physician and Stanford professor who served as CEO of the Permanente Medical Group for nearly two decades. And data show burnout affects doctors’ quality of care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the patient before you required all this extra work, has had this added fear, had all these challenges,” he said, referencing the study, “when the clinician sees you, he or she may not be as good and sharp as you would like them to be.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099231\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20260826_UCSFStudy_GC-11_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Individuals walk towards the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Aug. 26, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Burnout and moral injury can also lead doctors and other healthcare workers to leave their professions, he said, with particularly dire effects in primary care. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We already have a shortage,” he said, so “when you need a primary care doctor, that individual might not be there. And we’re certainly seeing that in many communities across the United States, where it’s almost impossible to find a primary care physician with an open panel.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For doctors in the study who were themselves immigrants, the distress was compounded. That has broad implications given that almost half of the country’s internal medicine doctors are foreign-born, according to \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2852745?guestAccessKey=da3ba888-5ff2-456f-9d94-b301cf5d2884&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=081226\">a study\u003c/a> released last month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the UCSF study on moral injury is small and qualitative, it points to ways healthcare institutions can support staff in an increasingly difficult environment. Doctors whose clinics protected patients’ immigration-related information and expanded telehealth, for example, described ways those changes helped them care for patients.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A sense of powerlessness contributed to the moral distress doctors in the study felt. Carolyn Dewa, a psychiatry and behavioral medicine professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine, said social support can protect against that. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you feel supported by colleagues and peers, or you feel supported by supervisors,” she said, “if people are not isolated from one another but feel that they’re part of a group, it also is protective.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The doctors interviewed for the study also described the importance of having a sense of agency. “This paper pointed out that feeling like you could take an active role does help mitigate some of the distress,” said Dr. Anne Rosenthal, who runs the adult primary care clinic at SF General, where Fernandez and San Miguel work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Her clinic has tried to do that in part by training staff on what to do if immigration enforcement shows up and proactively educating patients about what they need to do to keep Medi-Cal coverage as state enrollment rules change.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/over-two-million-more-californians-projected-to-lack-health-insurance-by-2030/\">UC Berkeley Labor Center projects\u003c/a> half of undocumented residents in California under age 65 could be uninsured by 2030, double the rate now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We live in fear of losing our patients, because we know that their physical health will suffer, the health of their kids will suffer, and the health of the community will suffer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "yes-bay-area-bats-have-rabies-how-real-are-your-risks",
"title": "Yes, Bay Area Bats Have Rabies. How Real Are Your Risks?",
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"headTitle": "Yes, Bay Area Bats Have Rabies. How Real Are Your Risks? | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00533.html\">health advisory \u003c/a>to doctors about increased rabies in animals and human exposures nationwide this summer, saying it received 17% more rabies-related inquiries in July and August than during that same time last year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rabies has, alarmingly, also featured in a number of Bay Area headlines this summer.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Three Humboldt County children were \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/08/3-humboldt-county-kids-had-to-be-treated-for-rabies-exposure-after-touching-bats/?utm_campaign=mrf-bluesky-mercurynews.com&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202609086a9d1d83f046393007a3a5d5\">treated for exposure\u003c/a> to rabies from bats in the past two weeks. \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/news/dead-bat-tests-positive-for-rabies-at-curry-village-in-yosemite-national-park.htm\">A dead bat\u003c/a> in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies. The city of Berkeley confirmed in late August that it has found \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/09/03/rabid-bats-berkeley\">five rabies-positive bats\u003c/a> in residential and commercial areas of the city this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://health.alamedacountyca.gov/program/rabies/\">And a domestic cat\u003c/a> in Pleasanton — which health officials said “may have been exposed to rabies by a bat on a balcony” — was also found to have rabies in late June.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While these events might sound unusual, “finding a rabid bat is not terribly uncommon,” said Scott Gilman, the director of health, housing and community services for the city of Berkeley. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We normally have about two a year if you look back in time,” he said. “But because we found five already this year, it’s a little bit of a spike.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gilman confirmed that all five of the bats in Berkeley were found dead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1302\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099032\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2-1536x1000.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A dead bat in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies, while Berkeley has found five rabies-positive bats in residential and commercial areas this year. (McDonald Wildlife Photography Inc../Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Valerie Ahlgren, senior vector control biologist for Alameda County’s Vector Control Services District, said 13 bats with rabies have been reported in the county alone this year. And while Ahlgren couldn’t pin this year’s increase on any particular cause, she said rabies can appear to be cyclical, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/as-bats-hibernate-through-the-winter-so-does-rabies\">peaking during summer months\u003c/a> and lying dormant — along with the hibernating bats that host it — during the winter\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Bats are the No. 1 reservoir of rabies,” she said. “They maintain it in their population for years and years.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Luckily, transmission of the virus from bats to humans is rare: Just 17 people in the state have ever been reported with rabies since 1980, the most recent case in 2024, when a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-040.aspx\">Fresno man died\u003c/a> from the virus. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And thankfully, it’s also treatable in humans if caught early. But once symptoms do appear, the virus is virtually always fatal — only a very small number of people worldwide have ever \u003ca href=\"https://www.aaas.org/membership/qualia/surviving-rabies-now-possible\">survived symptomatic rabies\u003c/a>. That’s why Gilman’s office \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/Provider%20Alert_Rabies-positive%20bats%20in%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sent a letter\u003c/a> to local physicians in August notifying them of the uptick and \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08-26%20%20Increase%20in%20Rabies-Positive%20Bats%20Identified%20in%202026%20in%20the%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sounded the alarm to the city council\u003c/a> as well. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you find a bat in your house, it \u003cem>really \u003c/em>is something that you have to take very seriously,” he said. “And it can be considered a medical emergency if you were bit by a bat.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read on for everything you need to know about the animals and your risk of rabies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How common are bats in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most people living in the Bay Area don’t know just how prevalent — and diverse — the local bat population is here, said Evan Cole, natural resource manager for San Mateo County Parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, bats have the most species of any mammal in the world and are particularly good at adapting to different habitats, including urban areas. But because they are nocturnal, they aren’t as noticeable, Cole said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, bats have been under-studied in academia, he said — “and I think that kind of trickles down into the public knowledge and our ability to properly educate people on the benefits and hazards of bats around us.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, there are 16 species of bat in the Bay Area alone, Cole said. They are insectivores, so they feed on bugs, and they “roost” in a variety of habitats, including local tree species like redwoods, eucalyptus and, of course, human structures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But unless they have a disease like rabies, bats in the wild aren’t something to be afraid of. In general, they are not interested in humans and don’t have any innate desire to bite you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bats should also be sleeping during the day, so any daytime activity means they’re either sick or in distress, Cole said. “Anytime you see a bat flying during the day, that’s bad news for the bat,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because bats can form a critical part of our local ecosystems, Cole said protection of their natural habitats — including in places like local parks — is important, especially as their survival is threatened by factors like climate change, diseases like \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-white-nose-syndrome.htm\">White-nose syndrome\u003c/a>, loss of insect populations globally and habitat transformation. That’s why San Mateo County Parks is careful not to disturb local bat populations when they’re most vulnerable, like during the nighttime, their springtime maternity season and during the winter months.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Bats are being kind of boxed into a corner in many ways, and we need to do our best to respect, protect them, and educate people about them, about the uses and benefits that they provide to people,” Cole said. “And then also invest in protection and restoration of open spaces like we do in parks to make sure that these native landscapes are still there as refuge for them.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the real risk of rabies from bats?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The headline: “Rabies should always be assumed to be present if you find a bat in your home,” Gilman said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And this is out of a justified abundance of caution. Rabies in animals is actually not overly common —\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\"> an average of just 200 cases \u003c/a>of rabies in animals are reported statewide each year, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099034\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little brown bat with its mouth wide open bares its teeth. (Gunter Marx Photography/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While all mammals can get rabies, bats and skunks are among the most common in California. So far this year, there have been 213 cases statewide, over 90% of which were in bats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some signs of rabies in bats include increased daytime activity or interaction with humans, as bats are nocturnal and tend to avoid humans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember: transmission of rabies from animals like bats to humans is rare, but it’s virtually always fatal if you do get rabies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should I do to protect bats — and myself — in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While places like San Mateo County Parks are focused on protecting natural bat habitats — and you can do so, too, in your yard, Cole said — you \u003cem>should \u003c/em>make sure bats aren’t living inside your home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Bats are really important,” Cole said. “They offer great ecosystem services. They may find themselves in your house and enjoy it as a roof structure, but you should not be encouraged to keep them there.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gilman advised residents to close up any holes or access points that bats may have into their home. That includes holes as small as a quarter of an inch, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you suspect bats might be roosting in your home and you live in San Mateo or Alameda counties, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcmvcd.org/request-service\">request a free inspection\u003c/a> and get advice on how to relocate the animals. Ahlgren said she talks to someone with a bat in their home in Alameda County at least once a week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to remove them from their natural habitat, but we also don’t want them living in people’s attics where they can get inside,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you think that bats might be living in your home, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the CDC recommends\u003c/a> observing how they are getting in and out of your home, counting them, and attempting to seal entrances once they have left the building.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CDPH also advises people to vaccinate their pets against rabies both for their health and to prevent the spread of the virus. California law requires all pet dogs to be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months old.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While there are no laws regulating outdoor cats, Ahlgren said these pets are at particular risk of contracting the virus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They’re actually one of the more likely pets to come into contact with bats,” she said. “And if your cat is unvaccinated and catches a bat, that’s a six-month strict quarantine, which is hard on cats.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to do if you see a bat in your home that might have bitten you\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, do not touch the bat, whether it’s dead or alive. It’s especially important to teach your children to never touch a bat, said Gilman.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re able, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">safely trap the live bat\u003c/a> in your home without touching it \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">(and if this sounds tricky, the CDC has a full set of instructions on pulling this off\u003c/a>). Then, call your local vector control group to get it relocated and tested for rabies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You probably aren’t going to even \u003cem>know \u003c/em>if you were bitten by a bat, Gilman said — because their teeth are so tiny that they barely leave a mark. If you do have a noticeable bite, though, thoroughly washing the bitten area with soap and water is a good idea, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\">according to CDPH\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fringed Myotis bat (Myotis Thysanodes) hanging from a ceiling while sleeping. (M. Flower/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, you should immediately seek medical attention and an evaluation and report the bite to your local disease prevention program and vector control service. Your health care provider might recommend you get a series of vaccinations to stop you from getting sick. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Reporting the bat and seeking medical attention are important even if you aren’t sure if you’ve been bitten, health experts say. Not only are a bat’s teeth so small that a bite might not be noticeable, but rabies, if untreated, is almost always fatal in humans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Rabies is deadly,” Gilman said. “So the assumption if you are bit by a bat is that you need to have prophylactic medication.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the time you feel any symptoms, which typically begin 4 to 8 weeks after exposure to the virus, you won’t be able to recover, Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You absolutely don’t wanna wait for symptoms because there’s no saving somebody that develops symptoms,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00533.html\">health advisory \u003c/a>to doctors about increased rabies in animals and human exposures nationwide this summer, saying it received 17% more rabies-related inquiries in July and August than during that same time last year.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00533.html\">health advisory \u003c/a>to doctors about increased rabies in animals and human exposures nationwide this summer, saying it received 17% more rabies-related inquiries in July and August than during that same time last year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rabies has, alarmingly, also featured in a number of Bay Area headlines this summer.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Three Humboldt County children were \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/08/3-humboldt-county-kids-had-to-be-treated-for-rabies-exposure-after-touching-bats/?utm_campaign=mrf-bluesky-mercurynews.com&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202609086a9d1d83f046393007a3a5d5\">treated for exposure\u003c/a> to rabies from bats in the past two weeks. \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/news/dead-bat-tests-positive-for-rabies-at-curry-village-in-yosemite-national-park.htm\">A dead bat\u003c/a> in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies. The city of Berkeley confirmed in late August that it has found \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/09/03/rabid-bats-berkeley\">five rabies-positive bats\u003c/a> in residential and commercial areas of the city this year. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Three Humboldt County children were \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/08/3-humboldt-county-kids-had-to-be-treated-for-rabies-exposure-after-touching-bats/?utm_campaign=mrf-bluesky-mercurynews.com&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202609086a9d1d83f046393007a3a5d5\">treated for exposure\u003c/a> to rabies from bats in the past two weeks. \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/news/dead-bat-tests-positive-for-rabies-at-curry-village-in-yosemite-national-park.htm\">A dead bat\u003c/a> in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies. The city of Berkeley confirmed in late August that it has found \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/09/03/rabid-bats-berkeley\">five rabies-positive bats\u003c/a> in residential and commercial areas of the city this year. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://health.alamedacountyca.gov/program/rabies/\">And a domestic cat\u003c/a> in Pleasanton — which health officials said “may have been exposed to rabies by a bat on a balcony” — was also found to have rabies in late June.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://health.alamedacountyca.gov/program/rabies/\">And a domestic cat\u003c/a> in Pleasanton — which health officials said “may have been exposed to rabies by a bat on a balcony” — was also found to have rabies in late June.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While these events might sound unusual, “finding a rabid bat is not terribly uncommon,” said Scott Gilman, the director of health, housing and community services for the city of Berkeley. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While these events might sound unusual, “finding a rabid bat is not terribly uncommon,” said Scott Gilman, the director of health, housing and community services for the city of Berkeley. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We normally have about two a year if you look back in time,” he said. “But because we found five already this year, it’s a little bit of a spike.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We normally have about two a year if you look back in time,” he said. “But because we found five already this year, it’s a little bit of a spike.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gilman confirmed that all five of the bats in Berkeley were found dead. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gilman confirmed that all five of the bats in Berkeley were found dead. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099032\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2-1536x1000.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A dead bat in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies, while Berkeley has found five rabies-positive bats in residential and commercial areas this year.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (McDonald Wildlife Photography Inc../Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099032\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A dead bat in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies, while Berkeley has found five rabies-positive bats in residential and commercial areas this year.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (McDonald Wildlife Photography Inc../Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Valerie Ahlgren, senior vector control biologist for Alameda County’s Vector Control Services District, said 13 bats with rabies have been reported in the county alone this year. And while Ahlgren couldn’t pin this year’s increase on any particular cause, she said rabies can appear to be cyclical, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/as-bats-hibernate-through-the-winter-so-does-rabies\">peaking during summer months\u003c/a> and lying dormant — along with the hibernating bats that host it — during the winter\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Valerie Ahlgren, senior vector control biologist for Alameda County’s Vector Control Services District, said 13 bats with rabies have been reported in the county alone this year. And while Ahlgren couldn’t pin this year’s increase on any particular cause, she said rabies can appear to be cyclical, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/as-bats-hibernate-through-the-winter-so-does-rabies\">peaking during summer months\u003c/a> and lying dormant — along with the hibernating bats that host it — during the winter\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Bats are the No. 1 reservoir of rabies,” she said. “They maintain it in their population for years and years.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Bats are the No. 1 reservoir of rabies,” she said. “They maintain it in their population for years and years.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Luckily, transmission of the virus from bats to humans is rare: Just 17 people in the state have ever been reported with rabies since 1980, the most recent case in 2024, when a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-040.aspx\">Fresno man died\u003c/a> from the virus. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Luckily, transmission of the virus from bats to humans is rare: Just 17 people in the state have ever been reported with rabies since 1980, the most recent case in 2024, when a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-040.aspx\">Fresno man died\u003c/a> from the virus. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And thankfully, it’s also treatable in humans if caught early. But once symptoms do appear, the virus is virtually always fatal — only a very small number of people worldwide have ever \u003ca href=\"https://www.aaas.org/membership/qualia/surviving-rabies-now-possible\">survived symptomatic rabies\u003c/a>. That’s why Gilman’s office \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/Provider%20Alert_Rabies-positive%20bats%20in%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sent a letter\u003c/a> to local physicians in August notifying them of the uptick and \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08-26%20%20Increase%20in%20Rabies-Positive%20Bats%20Identified%20in%202026%20in%20the%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sounded the alarm to the city council\u003c/a> as well. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And thankfully, it’s also treatable in humans if caught early. But once symptoms do appear, the virus is virtually always fatal — only a very small number of people worldwide have ever \u003ca href=\"https://www.aaas.org/membership/qualia/surviving-rabies-now-possible\">survived symptomatic rabies\u003c/a>. That’s why Gilman’s office \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/Provider%20Alert_Rabies-positive%20bats%20in%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sent a letter\u003c/a> to local physicians in August notifying them of the uptick and \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08-26%20%20Increase%20in%20Rabies-Positive%20Bats%20Identified%20in%202026%20in%20the%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sounded the alarm to the city council\u003c/a> as well. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you find a bat in your house, it \u003cem>really \u003c/em>is something that you have to take very seriously,” he said. “And it can be considered a medical emergency if you were bit by a bat.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If you find a bat in your house, it \u003cem>really \u003c/em>is something that you have to take very seriously,” he said. “And it can be considered a medical emergency if you were bit by a bat.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Read on for everything you need to know about the animals and your risk of rabies.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Read on for everything you need to know about the animals and your risk of rabies.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "How common are bats in the Bay Area?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How common are bats in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How common are bats in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most people living in the Bay Area don’t know just how prevalent — and diverse — the local bat population is here, said Evan Cole, natural resource manager for San Mateo County Parks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Most people living in the Bay Area don’t know just how prevalent — and diverse — the local bat population is here, said Evan Cole, natural resource manager for San Mateo County Parks.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In general, bats have the most species of any mammal in the world and are particularly good at adapting to different habitats, including urban areas. But because they are nocturnal, they aren’t as noticeable, Cole said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In general, bats have the most species of any mammal in the world and are particularly good at adapting to different habitats, including urban areas. But because they are nocturnal, they aren’t as noticeable, Cole said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In general, bats have been under-studied in academia, he said — “and I think that kind of trickles down into the public knowledge and our ability to properly educate people on the benefits and hazards of bats around us.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In general, bats have been under-studied in academia, he said — “and I think that kind of trickles down into the public knowledge and our ability to properly educate people on the benefits and hazards of bats around us.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In fact, there are 16 species of bat in the Bay Area alone, Cole said. They are insectivores, so they feed on bugs, and they “roost” in a variety of habitats, including local tree species like redwoods, eucalyptus and, of course, human structures. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In fact, there are 16 species of bat in the Bay Area alone, Cole said. They are insectivores, so they feed on bugs, and they “roost” in a variety of habitats, including local tree species like redwoods, eucalyptus and, of course, human structures. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But unless they have a disease like rabies, bats in the wild aren’t something to be afraid of. In general, they are not interested in humans and don’t have any innate desire to bite you. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But unless they have a disease like rabies, bats in the wild aren’t something to be afraid of. In general, they are not interested in humans and don’t have any innate desire to bite you. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bats should also be sleeping during the day, so any daytime activity means they’re either sick or in distress, Cole said. “Anytime you see a bat flying during the day, that’s bad news for the bat,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Bats should also be sleeping during the day, so any daytime activity means they’re either sick or in distress, Cole said. “Anytime you see a bat flying during the day, that’s bad news for the bat,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Because bats can form a critical part of our local ecosystems, Cole said protection of their natural habitats — including in places like local parks — is important, especially as their survival is threatened by factors like climate change, diseases like \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-white-nose-syndrome.htm\">White-nose syndrome\u003c/a>, loss of insect populations globally and habitat transformation. That’s why San Mateo County Parks is careful not to disturb local bat populations when they’re most vulnerable, like during the nighttime, their springtime maternity season and during the winter months.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Because bats can form a critical part of our local ecosystems, Cole said protection of their natural habitats — including in places like local parks — is important, especially as their survival is threatened by factors like climate change, diseases like \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-white-nose-syndrome.htm\">White-nose syndrome\u003c/a>, loss of insect populations globally and habitat transformation. That’s why San Mateo County Parks is careful not to disturb local bat populations when they’re most vulnerable, like during the nighttime, their springtime maternity season and during the winter months.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Bats are being kind of boxed into a corner in many ways, and we need to do our best to respect, protect them, and educate people about them, about the uses and benefits that they provide to people,” Cole said. “And then also invest in protection and restoration of open spaces like we do in parks to make sure that these native landscapes are still there as refuge for them.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Bats are being kind of boxed into a corner in many ways, and we need to do our best to respect, protect them, and educate people about them, about the uses and benefits that they provide to people,” Cole said. “And then also invest in protection and restoration of open spaces like we do in parks to make sure that these native landscapes are still there as refuge for them.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "What is the real risk of rabies from bats?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The headline: “Rabies should always be assumed to be present if you find a bat in your home,” Gilman said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The headline: “Rabies should always be assumed to be present if you find a bat in your home,” Gilman said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And this is out of a justified abundance of caution. Rabies in animals is actually not overly common —\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\"> an average of just 200 cases \u003c/a>of rabies in animals are reported statewide each year, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And this is out of a justified abundance of caution. Rabies in animals is actually not overly common —\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\"> an average of just 200 cases \u003c/a>of rabies in animals are reported statewide each year, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099034\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little brown bat with its mouth wide open bares its teeth.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gunter Marx Photography/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099034\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little brown bat with its mouth wide open bares its teeth.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gunter Marx Photography/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While all mammals can get rabies, bats and skunks are among the most common in California. So far this year, there have been 213 cases statewide, over 90% of which were in bats.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While all mammals can get rabies, bats and skunks are among the most common in California. So far this year, there have been 213 cases statewide, over 90% of which were in bats.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some signs of rabies in bats include increased daytime activity or interaction with humans, as bats are nocturnal and tend to avoid humans. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Remember: transmission of rabies from animals like bats to humans is rare, but it’s virtually always fatal if you do get rabies.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Remember: transmission of rabies from animals like bats to humans is rare, but it’s virtually always fatal if you do get rabies.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "What should I do to protect bats — and myself — in the Bay Area?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While places like San Mateo County Parks are focused on protecting natural bat habitats — and you can do so, too, in your yard, Cole said — you \u003cem>should \u003c/em>make sure bats aren’t living inside your home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While places like San Mateo County Parks are focused on protecting natural bat habitats — and you can do so, too, in your yard, Cole said — you \u003cem>should \u003c/em>make sure bats aren’t living inside your home.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Bats are really important,” Cole said. “They offer great ecosystem services. They may find themselves in your house and enjoy it as a roof structure, but you should not be encouraged to keep them there.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Bats are really important,” Cole said. “They offer great ecosystem services. They may find themselves in your house and enjoy it as a roof structure, but you should not be encouraged to keep them there.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gilman advised residents to close up any holes or access points that bats may have into their home. That includes holes as small as a quarter of an inch, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gilman advised residents to close up any holes or access points that bats may have into their home. That includes holes as small as a quarter of an inch, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you suspect bats might be roosting in your home and you live in San Mateo or Alameda counties, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcmvcd.org/request-service\">request a free inspection\u003c/a> and get advice on how to relocate the animals. Ahlgren said she talks to someone with a bat in their home in Alameda County at least once a week.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you suspect bats might be roosting in your home and you live in San Mateo or Alameda counties, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcmvcd.org/request-service\">request a free inspection\u003c/a> and get advice on how to relocate the animals. Ahlgren said she talks to someone with a bat in their home in Alameda County at least once a week.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to remove them from their natural habitat, but we also don’t want them living in people’s attics where they can get inside,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to remove them from their natural habitat, but we also don’t want them living in people’s attics where they can get inside,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you think that bats might be living in your home, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the CDC recommends\u003c/a> observing how they are getting in and out of your home, counting them, and attempting to seal entrances once they have left the building.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you think that bats might be living in your home, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the CDC recommends\u003c/a> observing how they are getting in and out of your home, counting them, and attempting to seal entrances once they have left the building.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>CDPH also advises people to vaccinate their pets against rabies both for their health and to prevent the spread of the virus. California law requires all pet dogs to be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months old.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>CDPH also advises people to vaccinate their pets against rabies both for their health and to prevent the spread of the virus. California law requires all pet dogs to be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months old.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While there are no laws regulating outdoor cats, Ahlgren said these pets are at particular risk of contracting the virus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While there are no laws regulating outdoor cats, Ahlgren said these pets are at particular risk of contracting the virus.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They’re actually one of the more likely pets to come into contact with bats,” she said. “And if your cat is unvaccinated and catches a bat, that’s a six-month strict quarantine, which is hard on cats.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They’re actually one of the more likely pets to come into contact with bats,” she said. “And if your cat is unvaccinated and catches a bat, that’s a six-month strict quarantine, which is hard on cats.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "What to do if you see a bat in your home that might have bitten you",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, do not touch the bat, whether it’s dead or alive. It’s especially important to teach your children to never touch a bat, said Gilman.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>First, do not touch the bat, whether it’s dead or alive. It’s especially important to teach your children to never touch a bat, said Gilman.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re able, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">safely trap the live bat\u003c/a> in your home without touching it \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">(and if this sounds tricky, the CDC has a full set of instructions on pulling this off\u003c/a>). Then, call your local vector control group to get it relocated and tested for rabies.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you’re able, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">safely trap the live bat\u003c/a> in your home without touching it \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">(and if this sounds tricky, the CDC has a full set of instructions on pulling this off\u003c/a>). Then, call your local vector control group to get it relocated and tested for rabies.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You probably aren’t going to even \u003cem>know \u003c/em>if you were bitten by a bat, Gilman said — because their teeth are so tiny that they barely leave a mark. If you do have a noticeable bite, though, thoroughly washing the bitten area with soap and water is a good idea, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\">according to CDPH\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You probably aren’t going to even \u003cem>know \u003c/em>if you were bitten by a bat, Gilman said — because their teeth are so tiny that they barely leave a mark. If you do have a noticeable bite, though, thoroughly washing the bitten area with soap and water is a good idea, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\">according to CDPH\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fringed Myotis bat (Myotis Thysanodes) hanging from a ceiling while sleeping.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (M. Flower/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099035\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fringed Myotis bat (Myotis Thysanodes) hanging from a ceiling while sleeping.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (M. Flower/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then, you should immediately seek medical attention and an evaluation and report the bite to your local disease prevention program and vector control service. Your health care provider might recommend you get a series of vaccinations to stop you from getting sick. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Then, you should immediately seek medical attention and an evaluation and report the bite to your local disease prevention program and vector control service. Your health care provider might recommend you get a series of vaccinations to stop you from getting sick. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Reporting the bat and seeking medical attention are important even if you aren’t sure if you’ve been bitten, health experts say. Not only are a bat’s teeth so small that a bite might not be noticeable, but rabies, if untreated, is almost always fatal in humans.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Reporting the bat and seeking medical attention are important even if you aren’t sure if you’ve been bitten, health experts say. Not only are a bat’s teeth so small that a bite might not be noticeable, but rabies, if untreated, is almost always fatal in humans.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Rabies is deadly,” Gilman said. “So the assumption if you are bit by a bat is that you need to have prophylactic medication.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Rabies is deadly,” Gilman said. “So the assumption if you are bit by a bat is that you need to have prophylactic medication.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By the time you feel any symptoms, which typically begin 4 to 8 weeks after exposure to the virus, you won’t be able to recover, Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>By the time you feel any symptoms, which typically begin 4 to 8 weeks after exposure to the virus, you won’t be able to recover, Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You absolutely don’t wanna wait for symptoms because there’s no saving somebody that develops symptoms,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You absolutely don’t wanna wait for symptoms because there’s no saving somebody that develops symptoms,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "A recent spike in rabies cases in the East Bay has officials on alert. How worried should you be — especially if you know there’s a bat around your home?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00533.html\">health advisory \u003c/a>to doctors about increased rabies in animals and human exposures nationwide this summer, saying it received 17% more rabies-related inquiries in July and August than during that same time last year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rabies has, alarmingly, also featured in a number of Bay Area headlines this summer.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Three Humboldt County children were \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/08/3-humboldt-county-kids-had-to-be-treated-for-rabies-exposure-after-touching-bats/?utm_campaign=mrf-bluesky-mercurynews.com&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202609086a9d1d83f046393007a3a5d5\">treated for exposure\u003c/a> to rabies from bats in the past two weeks. \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/news/dead-bat-tests-positive-for-rabies-at-curry-village-in-yosemite-national-park.htm\">A dead bat\u003c/a> in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies. The city of Berkeley confirmed in late August that it has found \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/09/03/rabid-bats-berkeley\">five rabies-positive bats\u003c/a> in residential and commercial areas of the city this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://health.alamedacountyca.gov/program/rabies/\">And a domestic cat\u003c/a> in Pleasanton — which health officials said “may have been exposed to rabies by a bat on a balcony” — was also found to have rabies in late June.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While these events might sound unusual, “finding a rabid bat is not terribly uncommon,” said Scott Gilman, the director of health, housing and community services for the city of Berkeley. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We normally have about two a year if you look back in time,” he said. “But because we found five already this year, it’s a little bit of a spike.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gilman confirmed that all five of the bats in Berkeley were found dead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1302\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099032\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty2-1536x1000.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A dead bat in Yosemite National Park also tested positive for rabies, while Berkeley has found five rabies-positive bats in residential and commercial areas this year. (McDonald Wildlife Photography Inc../Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Valerie Ahlgren, senior vector control biologist for Alameda County’s Vector Control Services District, said 13 bats with rabies have been reported in the county alone this year. And while Ahlgren couldn’t pin this year’s increase on any particular cause, she said rabies can appear to be cyclical, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/as-bats-hibernate-through-the-winter-so-does-rabies\">peaking during summer months\u003c/a> and lying dormant — along with the hibernating bats that host it — during the winter\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Bats are the No. 1 reservoir of rabies,” she said. “They maintain it in their population for years and years.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Luckily, transmission of the virus from bats to humans is rare: Just 17 people in the state have ever been reported with rabies since 1980, the most recent case in 2024, when a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-040.aspx\">Fresno man died\u003c/a> from the virus. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And thankfully, it’s also treatable in humans if caught early. But once symptoms do appear, the virus is virtually always fatal — only a very small number of people worldwide have ever \u003ca href=\"https://www.aaas.org/membership/qualia/surviving-rabies-now-possible\">survived symptomatic rabies\u003c/a>. That’s why Gilman’s office \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/Provider%20Alert_Rabies-positive%20bats%20in%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sent a letter\u003c/a> to local physicians in August notifying them of the uptick and \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08-26%20%20Increase%20in%20Rabies-Positive%20Bats%20Identified%20in%202026%20in%20the%20City%20of%20Berkeley.pdf\">sounded the alarm to the city council\u003c/a> as well. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you find a bat in your house, it \u003cem>really \u003c/em>is something that you have to take very seriously,” he said. “And it can be considered a medical emergency if you were bit by a bat.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read on for everything you need to know about the animals and your risk of rabies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How common are bats in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most people living in the Bay Area don’t know just how prevalent — and diverse — the local bat population is here, said Evan Cole, natural resource manager for San Mateo County Parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, bats have the most species of any mammal in the world and are particularly good at adapting to different habitats, including urban areas. But because they are nocturnal, they aren’t as noticeable, Cole said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, bats have been under-studied in academia, he said — “and I think that kind of trickles down into the public knowledge and our ability to properly educate people on the benefits and hazards of bats around us.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, there are 16 species of bat in the Bay Area alone, Cole said. They are insectivores, so they feed on bugs, and they “roost” in a variety of habitats, including local tree species like redwoods, eucalyptus and, of course, human structures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But unless they have a disease like rabies, bats in the wild aren’t something to be afraid of. In general, they are not interested in humans and don’t have any innate desire to bite you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bats should also be sleeping during the day, so any daytime activity means they’re either sick or in distress, Cole said. “Anytime you see a bat flying during the day, that’s bad news for the bat,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because bats can form a critical part of our local ecosystems, Cole said protection of their natural habitats — including in places like local parks — is important, especially as their survival is threatened by factors like climate change, diseases like \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-white-nose-syndrome.htm\">White-nose syndrome\u003c/a>, loss of insect populations globally and habitat transformation. That’s why San Mateo County Parks is careful not to disturb local bat populations when they’re most vulnerable, like during the nighttime, their springtime maternity season and during the winter months.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Bats are being kind of boxed into a corner in many ways, and we need to do our best to respect, protect them, and educate people about them, about the uses and benefits that they provide to people,” Cole said. “And then also invest in protection and restoration of open spaces like we do in parks to make sure that these native landscapes are still there as refuge for them.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the real risk of rabies from bats?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The headline: “Rabies should always be assumed to be present if you find a bat in your home,” Gilman said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And this is out of a justified abundance of caution. Rabies in animals is actually not overly common —\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\"> an average of just 200 cases \u003c/a>of rabies in animals are reported statewide each year, according to the California Department of Public Health.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099034\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty3-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little brown bat with its mouth wide open bares its teeth. (Gunter Marx Photography/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While all mammals can get rabies, bats and skunks are among the most common in California. So far this year, there have been 213 cases statewide, over 90% of which were in bats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some signs of rabies in bats include increased daytime activity or interaction with humans, as bats are nocturnal and tend to avoid humans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember: transmission of rabies from animals like bats to humans is rare, but it’s virtually always fatal if you do get rabies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should I do to protect bats — and myself — in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While places like San Mateo County Parks are focused on protecting natural bat habitats — and you can do so, too, in your yard, Cole said — you \u003cem>should \u003c/em>make sure bats aren’t living inside your home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Bats are really important,” Cole said. “They offer great ecosystem services. They may find themselves in your house and enjoy it as a roof structure, but you should not be encouraged to keep them there.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gilman advised residents to close up any holes or access points that bats may have into their home. That includes holes as small as a quarter of an inch, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you suspect bats might be roosting in your home and you live in San Mateo or Alameda counties, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcmvcd.org/request-service\">request a free inspection\u003c/a> and get advice on how to relocate the animals. Ahlgren said she talks to someone with a bat in their home in Alameda County at least once a week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to remove them from their natural habitat, but we also don’t want them living in people’s attics where they can get inside,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you think that bats might be living in your home, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">the CDC recommends\u003c/a> observing how they are getting in and out of your home, counting them, and attempting to seal entrances once they have left the building.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CDPH also advises people to vaccinate their pets against rabies both for their health and to prevent the spread of the virus. California law requires all pet dogs to be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months old.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While there are no laws regulating outdoor cats, Ahlgren said these pets are at particular risk of contracting the virus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They’re actually one of the more likely pets to come into contact with bats,” she said. “And if your cat is unvaccinated and catches a bat, that’s a six-month strict quarantine, which is hard on cats.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to do if you see a bat in your home that might have bitten you\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, do not touch the bat, whether it’s dead or alive. It’s especially important to teach your children to never touch a bat, said Gilman.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re able, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">safely trap the live bat\u003c/a> in your home without touching it \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html#cdc_generic_section_4-how-to-safely-capture-a-bat\">(and if this sounds tricky, the CDC has a full set of instructions on pulling this off\u003c/a>). Then, call your local vector control group to get it relocated and tested for rabies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You probably aren’t going to even \u003cem>know \u003c/em>if you were bitten by a bat, Gilman said — because their teeth are so tiny that they barely leave a mark. If you do have a noticeable bite, though, thoroughly washing the bitten area with soap and water is a good idea, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/rabies.aspx#WashBite\">according to CDPH\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/BatsGetty4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fringed Myotis bat (Myotis Thysanodes) hanging from a ceiling while sleeping. (M. Flower/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, you should immediately seek medical attention and an evaluation and report the bite to your local disease prevention program and vector control service. Your health care provider might recommend you get a series of vaccinations to stop you from getting sick. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Reporting the bat and seeking medical attention are important even if you aren’t sure if you’ve been bitten, health experts say. Not only are a bat’s teeth so small that a bite might not be noticeable, but rabies, if untreated, is almost always fatal in humans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Rabies is deadly,” Gilman said. “So the assumption if you are bit by a bat is that you need to have prophylactic medication.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the time you feel any symptoms, which typically begin 4 to 8 weeks after exposure to the virus, you won’t be able to recover, Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You absolutely don’t wanna wait for symptoms because there’s no saving somebody that develops symptoms,” Ahlgren said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "where-can-i-find-new-updated-2026-27-covid-vaccine-near-me-moderna-pfizer-cvs-walgreens-safeway-vaccinations-health-insurance-cost",
"title": "A New COVID Vaccine Is Here (Without Much Fanfare). When Should You Get It?",
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"headTitle": "A New COVID Vaccine Is Here (Without Much Fanfare). When Should You Get It? | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The new 2026-27 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/covid-19\">COVID-19\u003c/a> vaccine is here — although unlike in previous years, there’s a chance you might not even have heard about it yet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the updated shots last week. But this year, there’s been \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5947884/covid-flu-rsv-vaccine-recommendations\">no formal guidance\u003c/a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who should actually get it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the absence of any federal guidelines, the California Department of Public Health issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/IMM-1481.pdf#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=42181725-f337-476b-805b-39989c120200\">its own recommendations \u003c/a>on Friday about who should absolutely seek out the new COVID-19 shot. State health officials’ strongest recommendations are for everyone age 65 and older, those with risk factors that increase their chances of getting severe COVID-19, pregnant people, children age 6 to 23 months and healthcare workers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12053910\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A new COVID-19 vaccine is now available. (Luis Alvarez/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the state also said that basically everyone else — or in their words, “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” — can get the 2026-27 COVID-19 shot, too, and that it’ll be covered by health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Six years out from the onset of the pandemic, the language around COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has definitely changed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how to understand the latest guidelines, why you’re not hearing anything from the CDC this year and when you should consider getting your own vaccine to lower your chances of getting a nasty bout of COVID-19 this fall and winter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, are appointments for the new 2026-27 COVID vaccines already available?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes: The new shots have already rolled out at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens around the state. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pharmacies are the first place that COVID vaccine supplies become available each fall right after the FDA and CDC sign off, because they take their orders from the federal government rather than the state. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the coming weeks, the updated 2026-27 COVID vaccine will soon become available at doctors’ offices, clinics and health systems like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re a parent wanting to vaccinate your kid sooner rather than later, however, remember: The state says that pharmacies \u003cem>aren’t\u003c/em> authorized to vaccinate children age two and under. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This means that unless your child is age three or older, you won’t be able to get their COVID shot at a pharmacy, and you should talk to your child’s pediatrician about how best to get their shot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The exception to this is CVS’s MinuteClinics, which are staffed by providers who are permitted to administer a COVID vaccine to kids age 18 months and older.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will my fall COVID shot still be covered by health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes: “All vaccines recommended by the California Department of Public Health continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California,” CDPH said in its Friday statement announcing its recommendations around the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One wrinkle to remember if you get your healthcare through a system like Kaiser Permanente: If you’re considering getting your COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy for convenience, rather than from your own provider, you usually \u003cem>can’t\u003c/em> get vaccines fully covered by your insurance. But, according to Kaiser, “you may be able to get up to \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">half of the cost \u003c/a>reimbursed.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re going the reimbursement route, bear in mind that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">the out-of-pocket cost of getting your COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> at CVS this year is now $278.99 — up 40% from $198.99 last year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cem>When \u003c/em>should I get my 2026-27 COVID shot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Higher-risk groups\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine is available to patients age 6 months and older, but California health officials are strongly recommending the updated vaccine for the following higher-risk groups:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Children:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>All children age 6-23 months\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All children age 2-18 years with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/populations-at-risk-covid.pdf\">risk factors\u003c/a> or who’ve never been vaccinated against COVID-19\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All children who are in close contact with others with risk factors\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Adults:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>All age 65 years and older\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Anyone who’s pregnant, planning to become pregnant or is postpartum\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Anyone age 9-64 years with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/populations-at-risk-covid.pdf\">risk factors\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All who are in close contact with others with risk factors\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All healthcare workers\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033385\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A syringe is filled with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site inside Reuther Hall at Forty Acres on March 13, 2021, in Delano, California. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re in one of the above groups — meaning you’re either at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 yourself or at higher risk of spreading COVID-19 to others — it’s a good idea to seek out your updated vaccine soon, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are some populations who I just don’t want there to be any doubt about, because they’re very important,” Chin-Hong said. “I’m on the highest alert around them, because those are the people who are still coming into the hospital [with COVID-19], either inpatient or going to the emergency room.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a nutshell: If you’re one of the people in the list above, or your kid is, seek out your new COVID-19 shot as soon as you can.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See the full list of CDPH’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/publichealth4all/vaccines.aspx#table\">recommendations for respiratory vaccines\u003c/a> this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People who aren’t at higher risk\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you or your child isn’t listed in those higher-risk groups above, you fall into CDPH’s recommendation that “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” can still get the updated 2026-27 COVID-19 shot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what does that mean practically? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One thing to know: The Bay Area is still in a summer COVID wave, as shown by \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CoYBEAA4AUgAUgY1NzlkYTNSBjM3NDMwYVIGZTllODdlUgYwN2NlZDdSBjhhOWI0YlIGYzhkMzU3UgYyNTQ4MTlSBmRkMzZmYlIGZmEyZDYzUgZiNzIzYWVSBmJjNzlmOVIGODRkNDg5UgZkZGU4OGZaBk4gR2VuZXifAYoBBmQyY2RlNrgBiwg%3D&selectedChartId=d2cde6\">levels of coronavirus in the region’s wastewater\u003c/a> (aka human sewage). And “based on current patterns, we still have plenty of the current wave ahead of us,” said Dr. Matt Willis, the state’s correspondent for \u003ca href=\"https://yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com/\">Your Local Epidemiologist California, who was formerly Marin County’s public health officer at the height of the pandemic. “\u003c/a>It still hasn’t peaked, and then there’s a few weeks on the downslope to expect.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With that in mind, Willis told KQED by email that “if you want to be protected even if you’re not high risk, I would still go ahead and get the vaccine now.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In California, he said, “We haven’t really seen COVID-19 activity in the winter, at least judging from the past two years. So the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19 is likely higher for the next couple months than it may be for the rest of the year, until next summer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Of course, there are people — like Kaiser patients, or people who prefer to get their COVID vaccine at their own doctor’s office — who’ll be waiting to get their shot until supplies of the new vaccine become available beyond pharmacies. And Chin-Hong said there are other reasons some people might consider waiting a little, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a physician, “I put an exclamation point next to the people who I \u003cem>really \u003c/em>want to get it,” Chin-Hong said. But “for everyone else, it could be used strategically,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Getting the new vaccine will give you “a buffer for infection for about three months or so,” Chin-Hong said — and it’ll take around two weeks after getting your shot for your body to develop the fullest immunity. So you might consider strategically timing your updated COVID-19 shot to coincide with any travel you have coming up this fall, he said — or to have good protection for around the holidays.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A boy with a tuxedo T-shirt and a face mask holds his mother's hand as he receives a shot in the arm by a nurse.\" class=\"wp-image-11961112\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A child receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Sept. 12, 2023. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If just getting out to \u003cem>get \u003c/em>your vaccines is difficult, you could also opt to conveniently get your COVID shot and your flu shot during the same appointment in October, said Chin-Hong. As for that specific timing, it’s best to get your flu shot sometime before Halloween, he said, and you don’t want to get it \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early ahead of flu season, which might arrive a little later this year if Australia’s flu season — \u003ca href=\"https://www.today.com/health/cold-flu/flu-guide-2026-season-severity-symptoms-treatment-mrna-vaccine-rcna595714\">traditionally used as a barometer of what the U.S. can expect\u003c/a> — is any indicator.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, if you’re the kind of person whose calendar and obligations get packed in the fall and you’re concerned you’ll forget to get your shots altogether, release yourself from the burden of overstrategizing and just go get your vaccine when you can.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And remember: If you were one of the many folks in the Bay Area who got taken down by COVID-19 during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091325/summer-covid-test-2026-wastewater-variants-isolation-contagious-xfg-san-francisco-bay-area-california\">this summer’s ongoing wave\u003c/a>, your infection has given you around three months’ natural immunity — so you should wait until that “expires” before seeking out your latest COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will the new 2026-27 COVID shot protect me from the latest strains out there right now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — each year the COVID-19 vaccine is updated for maximum efficacy, to target the variants that are most likely to try to take you down this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 shot actually only targets one strain, XFG, “which is the number one strain right now circulating,” Chin-Hong said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>People infected with XFG have often reported a scratchy, hoarse throat that’s easily mistaken for allergies, along with the kind of primarily respiratory symptoms we’ve come to expect from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine — other than a pharmacy?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your healthcare provider, when available\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your healthcare provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and when.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1405\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028314\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1020x717.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1536x1079.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1920x1349.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A CVS in Huntington Park on Aug. 28, 2024. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to talking with your healthcare provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it offers the ability to make appointments and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through My Turn, when available\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your county, when available\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check your county’s public health website to see if the updated COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to residents, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I heard the FDA and CDC tried to restrict eligibility for COVID vaccines last year. Can I still get my shot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes — because California’s own recommendations overrule the federal government when it comes to you accessing this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To understand the backstory: In August 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">the FDA under President Donald Trump’s second administration announced\u003c/a> that the agency would be limiting eligibility for the updated shots for the first time — and that the 2025-26 vaccines would be available only to people age 65 and over and to anyone with a health condition that puts them at higher risk from COVID-19. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At first, the shots rolled out across California pharmacies only for these groups. But shortly after, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would join Oregon and Washington in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">launching a new “West Coast Health Alliance,”\u003c/a> a coalition that now issues its own state-specific vaccine recommendations — effectively overriding the FDA and CDC’s attempts to limit eligibility for your COVID-19 vaccine in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (left), looks on during an election night gathering at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a joint statement, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">the governors said the CDC had “become a political tool\u003c/a> that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences,” adding that “California, Oregon and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">Newsom has also signed a law\u003c/a> which now allows the state to act independently from the CDC when it comes to vaccine recommendations, “empowering California to chart its own path and reject corrupted federal guidelines,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. As for how California is able to expand beyond the FDA’s eligibility restrictions, that FDA decision affects what’s called the vaccine’s “label” — and California is now making the shot available to people outside of the FDA’s limitations “off-label.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And what about the CDC, which has issued annual recommendations for who should get these vaccines since they were first released in 2021? In summer 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dissolved the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel and \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-chief-kennedy-names-new-members-vaccine-advisory-committee-2025-06-11/\">replaced its members with a number of doctors and researchers\u003c/a> who have repeatedly questioned the safety of commonly used vaccines and ingredients.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But after a lawsuit earlier this year that blocked \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/16/nx-s1-5749530/judge-blocks-rfk-jr-vaccine-changes\">the Trump administration’s efforts \u003c/a>to reduce routine vaccines for children, the CDC’s process for issuing annual vaccine guidelines — including COVID-19 — remains in limbo, and for the first time since 2021, the agency has released no formal guidelines for the COVID-19 shot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The CDC’s recommendations used to be what insurance companies based their coverage on when it comes to vaccines. But the state has confirmed that all vaccines recommended by CDPH — which includes COVID-19 vaccines for anyone who wants them — “continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The new 2026-27 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/covid-19\">COVID-19\u003c/a> vaccine is here — although unlike in previous years, there’s a chance you might not even have heard about it yet.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The new 2026-27 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/covid-19\">COVID-19\u003c/a> vaccine is here — although unlike in previous years, there’s a chance you might not even have heard about it yet.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the updated shots last week. But this year, there’s been \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5947884/covid-flu-rsv-vaccine-recommendations\">no formal guidance\u003c/a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who should actually get it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the updated shots last week. But this year, there’s been \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5947884/covid-flu-rsv-vaccine-recommendations\">no formal guidance\u003c/a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who should actually get it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the absence of any federal guidelines, the California Department of Public Health issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/IMM-1481.pdf#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=42181725-f337-476b-805b-39989c120200\">its own recommendations \u003c/a>on Friday about who should absolutely seek out the new COVID-19 shot. State health officials’ strongest recommendations are for everyone age 65 and older, those with risk factors that increase their chances of getting severe COVID-19, pregnant people, children age 6 to 23 months and healthcare workers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the absence of any federal guidelines, the California Department of Public Health issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/IMM-1481.pdf#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=42181725-f337-476b-805b-39989c120200\">its own recommendations \u003c/a>on Friday about who should absolutely seek out the new COVID-19 shot. State health officials’ strongest recommendations are for everyone age 65 and older, those with risk factors that increase their chances of getting severe COVID-19, pregnant people, children age 6 to 23 months and healthcare workers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12053910\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A new COVID-19 vaccine is now available.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Luis Alvarez/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12053910\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A new COVID-19 vaccine is now available.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Luis Alvarez/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the state also said that basically everyone else — or in their words, “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” — can get the 2026-27 COVID-19 shot, too, and that it’ll be covered by health insurance.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But the state also said that basically everyone else — or in their words, “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” — can get the 2026-27 COVID-19 shot, too, and that it’ll be covered by health insurance.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Six years out from the onset of the pandemic, the language around COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has definitely changed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Six years out from the onset of the pandemic, the language around COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has definitely changed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how to understand the latest guidelines, why you’re not hearing anything from the CDC this year and when you should consider getting your own vaccine to lower your chances of getting a nasty bout of COVID-19 this fall and winter.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how to understand the latest guidelines, why you’re not hearing anything from the CDC this year and when you should consider getting your own vaccine to lower your chances of getting a nasty bout of COVID-19 this fall and winter.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "First off, are appointments for the new 2026-27 COVID vaccines already available?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, are appointments for the new 2026-27 COVID vaccines already available?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, are appointments for the new 2026-27 COVID vaccines already available?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes: The new shots have already rolled out at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens around the state. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Yes: The new shots have already rolled out at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens around the state. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pharmacies are the first place that COVID vaccine supplies become available each fall right after the FDA and CDC sign off, because they take their orders from the federal government rather than the state. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Pharmacies are the first place that COVID vaccine supplies become available each fall right after the FDA and CDC sign off, because they take their orders from the federal government rather than the state. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the coming weeks, the updated 2026-27 COVID vaccine will soon become available at doctors’ offices, clinics and health systems like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In the coming weeks, the updated 2026-27 COVID vaccine will soon become available at doctors’ offices, clinics and health systems like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re a parent wanting to vaccinate your kid sooner rather than later, however, remember: The state says that pharmacies \u003cem>aren’t\u003c/em> authorized to vaccinate children age two and under. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re a parent wanting to vaccinate your kid sooner rather than later, however, remember: The state says that pharmacies \u003cem>aren’t\u003c/em> authorized to vaccinate children age two and under. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This means that unless your child is age three or older, you won’t be able to get their COVID shot at a pharmacy, and you should talk to your child’s pediatrician about how best to get their shot. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This means that unless your child is age three or older, you won’t be able to get their COVID shot at a pharmacy, and you should talk to your child’s pediatrician about how best to get their shot. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The exception to this is CVS’s MinuteClinics, which are staffed by providers who are permitted to administer a COVID vaccine to kids age 18 months and older.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The exception to this is CVS’s MinuteClinics, which are staffed by providers who are permitted to administer a COVID vaccine to kids age 18 months and older.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Will my fall COVID shot still be covered by health insurance?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will my fall COVID shot still be covered by health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes: “All vaccines recommended by the California Department of Public Health continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California,” CDPH said in its Friday statement announcing its recommendations around the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Yes: “All vaccines recommended by the California Department of Public Health continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California,” CDPH said in its Friday statement announcing its recommendations around the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One wrinkle to remember if you get your healthcare through a system like Kaiser Permanente: If you’re considering getting your COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy for convenience, rather than from your own provider, you usually \u003cem>can’t\u003c/em> get vaccines fully covered by your insurance. But, according to Kaiser, “you may be able to get up to \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">half of the cost \u003c/a>reimbursed.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One wrinkle to remember if you get your healthcare through a system like Kaiser Permanente: If you’re considering getting your COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy for convenience, rather than from your own provider, you usually \u003cem>can’t\u003c/em> get vaccines fully covered by your insurance. But, according to Kaiser, “you may be able to get up to \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">half of the cost \u003c/a>reimbursed.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re going the reimbursement route, bear in mind that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">the out-of-pocket cost of getting your COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> at CVS this year is now $278.99 — up 40% from $198.99 last year.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re going the reimbursement route, bear in mind that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">the out-of-pocket cost of getting your COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> at CVS this year is now $278.99 — up 40% from $198.99 last year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "When should I get my 2026-27 COVID shot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cem>When \u003c/em>should I get my 2026-27 COVID shot?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"text": "Higher-risk groups"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Higher-risk groups\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine is available to patients age 6 months and older, but California health officials are strongly recommending the updated vaccine for the following higher-risk groups:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine is available to patients age 6 months and older, but California health officials are strongly recommending the updated vaccine for the following higher-risk groups:\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Children:\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>All children age 6-23 months\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>All children age 2-18 years with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/populations-at-risk-covid.pdf\">risk factors\u003c/a> or who’ve never been vaccinated against COVID-19\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Anyone who’s pregnant, planning to become pregnant or is postpartum\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Anyone age 9-64 years with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/populations-at-risk-covid.pdf\">risk factors\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033385\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A syringe is filled with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site inside Reuther Hall at Forty Acres on March 13, 2021, in Delano, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033385\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A syringe is filled with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site inside Reuther Hall at Forty Acres on March 13, 2021, in Delano, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re in one of the above groups — meaning you’re either at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 yourself or at higher risk of spreading COVID-19 to others — it’s a good idea to seek out your updated vaccine soon, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you’re in one of the above groups — meaning you’re either at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 yourself or at higher risk of spreading COVID-19 to others — it’s a good idea to seek out your updated vaccine soon, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There are some populations who I just don’t want there to be any doubt about, because they’re very important,” Chin-Hong said. “I’m on the highest alert around them, because those are the people who are still coming into the hospital [with COVID-19], either inpatient or going to the emergency room.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“There are some populations who I just don’t want there to be any doubt about, because they’re very important,” Chin-Hong said. “I’m on the highest alert around them, because those are the people who are still coming into the hospital [with COVID-19], either inpatient or going to the emergency room.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a nutshell: If you’re one of the people in the list above, or your kid is, seek out your new COVID-19 shot as soon as you can.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In a nutshell: If you’re one of the people in the list above, or your kid is, seek out your new COVID-19 shot as soon as you can.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>See the full list of CDPH’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/publichealth4all/vaccines.aspx#table\">recommendations for respiratory vaccines\u003c/a> this year.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>See the full list of CDPH’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/publichealth4all/vaccines.aspx#table\">recommendations for respiratory vaccines\u003c/a> this year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
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"text": "People who aren’t at higher risk"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People who aren’t at higher risk\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People who aren’t at higher risk\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you or your child isn’t listed in those higher-risk groups above, you fall into CDPH’s recommendation that “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” can still get the updated 2026-27 COVID-19 shot.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you or your child isn’t listed in those higher-risk groups above, you fall into CDPH’s recommendation that “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” can still get the updated 2026-27 COVID-19 shot.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But what does that mean practically? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But what does that mean practically? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One thing to know: The Bay Area is still in a summer COVID wave, as shown by \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CoYBEAA4AUgAUgY1NzlkYTNSBjM3NDMwYVIGZTllODdlUgYwN2NlZDdSBjhhOWI0YlIGYzhkMzU3UgYyNTQ4MTlSBmRkMzZmYlIGZmEyZDYzUgZiNzIzYWVSBmJjNzlmOVIGODRkNDg5UgZkZGU4OGZaBk4gR2VuZXifAYoBBmQyY2RlNrgBiwg%3D&selectedChartId=d2cde6\">levels of coronavirus in the region’s wastewater\u003c/a> (aka human sewage). And “based on current patterns, we still have plenty of the current wave ahead of us,” said Dr. Matt Willis, the state’s correspondent for \u003ca href=\"https://yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com/\">Your Local Epidemiologist California, who was formerly Marin County’s public health officer at the height of the pandemic. “\u003c/a>It still hasn’t peaked, and then there’s a few weeks on the downslope to expect.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>One thing to know: The Bay Area is still in a summer COVID wave, as shown by \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CoYBEAA4AUgAUgY1NzlkYTNSBjM3NDMwYVIGZTllODdlUgYwN2NlZDdSBjhhOWI0YlIGYzhkMzU3UgYyNTQ4MTlSBmRkMzZmYlIGZmEyZDYzUgZiNzIzYWVSBmJjNzlmOVIGODRkNDg5UgZkZGU4OGZaBk4gR2VuZXifAYoBBmQyY2RlNrgBiwg%3D&selectedChartId=d2cde6\">levels of coronavirus in the region’s wastewater\u003c/a> (aka human sewage). And “based on current patterns, we still have plenty of the current wave ahead of us,” said Dr. Matt Willis, the state’s correspondent for \u003ca href=\"https://yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com/\">Your Local Epidemiologist California, who was formerly Marin County’s public health officer at the height of the pandemic. “\u003c/a>It still hasn’t peaked, and then there’s a few weeks on the downslope to expect.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With that in mind, Willis told KQED by email that “if you want to be protected even if you’re not high risk, I would still go ahead and get the vaccine now.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>With that in mind, Willis told KQED by email that “if you want to be protected even if you’re not high risk, I would still go ahead and get the vaccine now.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In California, he said, “We haven’t really seen COVID-19 activity in the winter, at least judging from the past two years. So the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19 is likely higher for the next couple months than it may be for the rest of the year, until next summer.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In California, he said, “We haven’t really seen COVID-19 activity in the winter, at least judging from the past two years. So the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19 is likely higher for the next couple months than it may be for the rest of the year, until next summer.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Of course, there are people — like Kaiser patients, or people who prefer to get their COVID vaccine at their own doctor’s office — who’ll be waiting to get their shot until supplies of the new vaccine become available beyond pharmacies. And Chin-Hong said there are other reasons some people might consider waiting a little, too.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Of course, there are people — like Kaiser patients, or people who prefer to get their COVID vaccine at their own doctor’s office — who’ll be waiting to get their shot until supplies of the new vaccine become available beyond pharmacies. And Chin-Hong said there are other reasons some people might consider waiting a little, too.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As a physician, “I put an exclamation point next to the people who I \u003cem>really \u003c/em>want to get it,” Chin-Hong said. But “for everyone else, it could be used strategically,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As a physician, “I put an exclamation point next to the people who I \u003cem>really \u003c/em>want to get it,” Chin-Hong said. But “for everyone else, it could be used strategically,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Getting the new vaccine will give you “a buffer for infection for about three months or so,” Chin-Hong said — and it’ll take around two weeks after getting your shot for your body to develop the fullest immunity. So you might consider strategically timing your updated COVID-19 shot to coincide with any travel you have coming up this fall, he said — or to have good protection for around the holidays.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Getting the new vaccine will give you “a buffer for infection for about three months or so,” Chin-Hong said — and it’ll take around two weeks after getting your shot for your body to develop the fullest immunity. So you might consider strategically timing your updated COVID-19 shot to coincide with any travel you have coming up this fall, he said — or to have good protection for around the holidays.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A boy with a tuxedo T-shirt and a face mask holds his mother's hand as he receives a shot in the arm by a nurse.\" class=\"wp-image-11961112\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A child receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Sept. 12, 2023. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A boy with a tuxedo T-shirt and a face mask holds his mother's hand as he receives a shot in the arm by a nurse.\" class=\"wp-image-11961112\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A child receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Sept. 12, 2023. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If just getting out to \u003cem>get \u003c/em>your vaccines is difficult, you could also opt to conveniently get your COVID shot and your flu shot during the same appointment in October, said Chin-Hong. As for that specific timing, it’s best to get your flu shot sometime before Halloween, he said, and you don’t want to get it \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early ahead of flu season, which might arrive a little later this year if Australia’s flu season — \u003ca href=\"https://www.today.com/health/cold-flu/flu-guide-2026-season-severity-symptoms-treatment-mrna-vaccine-rcna595714\">traditionally used as a barometer of what the U.S. can expect\u003c/a> — is any indicator.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If just getting out to \u003cem>get \u003c/em>your vaccines is difficult, you could also opt to conveniently get your COVID shot and your flu shot during the same appointment in October, said Chin-Hong. As for that specific timing, it’s best to get your flu shot sometime before Halloween, he said, and you don’t want to get it \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early ahead of flu season, which might arrive a little later this year if Australia’s flu season — \u003ca href=\"https://www.today.com/health/cold-flu/flu-guide-2026-season-severity-symptoms-treatment-mrna-vaccine-rcna595714\">traditionally used as a barometer of what the U.S. can expect\u003c/a> — is any indicator.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, if you’re the kind of person whose calendar and obligations get packed in the fall and you’re concerned you’ll forget to get your shots altogether, release yourself from the burden of overstrategizing and just go get your vaccine when you can.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>However, if you’re the kind of person whose calendar and obligations get packed in the fall and you’re concerned you’ll forget to get your shots altogether, release yourself from the burden of overstrategizing and just go get your vaccine when you can.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And remember: If you were one of the many folks in the Bay Area who got taken down by COVID-19 during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091325/summer-covid-test-2026-wastewater-variants-isolation-contagious-xfg-san-francisco-bay-area-california\">this summer’s ongoing wave\u003c/a>, your infection has given you around three months’ natural immunity — so you should wait until that “expires” before seeking out your latest COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And remember: If you were one of the many folks in the Bay Area who got taken down by COVID-19 during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091325/summer-covid-test-2026-wastewater-variants-isolation-contagious-xfg-san-francisco-bay-area-california\">this summer’s ongoing wave\u003c/a>, your infection has given you around three months’ natural immunity — so you should wait until that “expires” before seeking out your latest COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Will the new 2026-27 COVID shot protect me from the latest strains out there right now?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will the new 2026-27 COVID shot protect me from the latest strains out there right now?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will the new 2026-27 COVID shot protect me from the latest strains out there right now?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — each year the COVID-19 vaccine is updated for maximum efficacy, to target the variants that are most likely to try to take you down this year.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — each year the COVID-19 vaccine is updated for maximum efficacy, to target the variants that are most likely to try to take you down this year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 shot actually only targets one strain, XFG, “which is the number one strain right now circulating,” Chin-Hong said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 shot actually only targets one strain, XFG, “which is the number one strain right now circulating,” Chin-Hong said. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>People infected with XFG have often reported a scratchy, hoarse throat that’s easily mistaken for allergies, along with the kind of primarily respiratory symptoms we’ve come to expect from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>People infected with XFG have often reported a scratchy, hoarse throat that’s easily mistaken for allergies, along with the kind of primarily respiratory symptoms we’ve come to expect from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Where can I find the new COVID vaccine — other than a pharmacy?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine — other than a pharmacy?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine — other than a pharmacy?\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Through your healthcare provider, when available"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your healthcare provider, when available\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your healthcare provider, when available\u003c/h3>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your healthcare provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and when.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your healthcare provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and when.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1020x717.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1536x1079.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1920x1349.jpg 1920w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028314\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1020x717.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1536x1079.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1920x1349.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A CVS in Huntington Park on Aug. 28, 2024. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028314\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A CVS in Huntington Park on Aug. 28, 2024. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In addition to talking with your healthcare provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it offers the ability to make appointments and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In addition to talking with your healthcare provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it offers the ability to make appointments and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Through My Turn, when available"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through My Turn, when available\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through My Turn, when available\u003c/h3>\n"
],
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Through your county, when available"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your county, when available\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your county, when available\u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Check your county’s public health website to see if the updated COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to residents, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Check your county’s public health website to see if the updated COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to residents, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I heard the FDA and CDC tried to restrict eligibility for COVID vaccines last year. Can I still get my shot?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I heard the FDA and CDC tried to restrict eligibility for COVID vaccines last year. Can I still get my shot?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I heard the FDA and CDC tried to restrict eligibility for COVID vaccines last year. Can I still get my shot?\u003c/h2>\n"
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes — because California’s own recommendations overrule the federal government when it comes to you accessing this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Yes — because California’s own recommendations overrule the federal government when it comes to you accessing this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n"
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To understand the backstory: In August 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">the FDA under President Donald Trump’s second administration announced\u003c/a> that the agency would be limiting eligibility for the updated shots for the first time — and that the 2025-26 vaccines would be available only to people age 65 and over and to anyone with a health condition that puts them at higher risk from COVID-19. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>To understand the backstory: In August 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">the FDA under President Donald Trump’s second administration announced\u003c/a> that the agency would be limiting eligibility for the updated shots for the first time — and that the 2025-26 vaccines would be available only to people age 65 and over and to anyone with a health condition that puts them at higher risk from COVID-19. \u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At first, the shots rolled out across California pharmacies only for these groups. But shortly after, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would join Oregon and Washington in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">launching a new “West Coast Health Alliance,”\u003c/a> a coalition that now issues its own state-specific vaccine recommendations — effectively overriding the FDA and CDC’s attempts to limit eligibility for your COVID-19 vaccine in California.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>At first, the shots rolled out across California pharmacies only for these groups. But shortly after, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would join Oregon and Washington in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">launching a new “West Coast Health Alliance,”\u003c/a> a coalition that now issues its own state-specific vaccine recommendations — effectively overriding the FDA and CDC’s attempts to limit eligibility for your COVID-19 vaccine in California.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-1536x1027.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (left), looks on during an election night gathering at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 4, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087658\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (left), looks on during an election night gathering at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 4, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a joint statement, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">the governors said the CDC had “become a political tool\u003c/a> that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences,” adding that “California, Oregon and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In a joint statement, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">the governors said the CDC had “become a political tool\u003c/a> that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences,” adding that “California, Oregon and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">Newsom has also signed a law\u003c/a> which now allows the state to act independently from the CDC when it comes to vaccine recommendations, “empowering California to chart its own path and reject corrupted federal guidelines,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. As for how California is able to expand beyond the FDA’s eligibility restrictions, that FDA decision affects what’s called the vaccine’s “label” — and California is now making the shot available to people outside of the FDA’s limitations “off-label.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">Newsom has also signed a law\u003c/a> which now allows the state to act independently from the CDC when it comes to vaccine recommendations, “empowering California to chart its own path and reject corrupted federal guidelines,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. As for how California is able to expand beyond the FDA’s eligibility restrictions, that FDA decision affects what’s called the vaccine’s “label” — and California is now making the shot available to people outside of the FDA’s limitations “off-label.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And what about the CDC, which has issued annual recommendations for who should get these vaccines since they were first released in 2021? In summer 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dissolved the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel and \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-chief-kennedy-names-new-members-vaccine-advisory-committee-2025-06-11/\">replaced its members with a number of doctors and researchers\u003c/a> who have repeatedly questioned the safety of commonly used vaccines and ingredients.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And what about the CDC, which has issued annual recommendations for who should get these vaccines since they were first released in 2021? In summer 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dissolved the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel and \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-chief-kennedy-names-new-members-vaccine-advisory-committee-2025-06-11/\">replaced its members with a number of doctors and researchers\u003c/a> who have repeatedly questioned the safety of commonly used vaccines and ingredients.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But after a lawsuit earlier this year that blocked \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/16/nx-s1-5749530/judge-blocks-rfk-jr-vaccine-changes\">the Trump administration’s efforts \u003c/a>to reduce routine vaccines for children, the CDC’s process for issuing annual vaccine guidelines — including COVID-19 — remains in limbo, and for the first time since 2021, the agency has released no formal guidelines for the COVID-19 shot. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But after a lawsuit earlier this year that blocked \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/16/nx-s1-5749530/judge-blocks-rfk-jr-vaccine-changes\">the Trump administration’s efforts \u003c/a>to reduce routine vaccines for children, the CDC’s process for issuing annual vaccine guidelines — including COVID-19 — remains in limbo, and for the first time since 2021, the agency has released no formal guidelines for the COVID-19 shot. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The CDC’s recommendations used to be what insurance companies based their coverage on when it comes to vaccines. But the state has confirmed that all vaccines recommended by CDPH — which includes COVID-19 vaccines for anyone who wants them — “continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The CDC’s recommendations used to be what insurance companies based their coverage on when it comes to vaccines. But the state has confirmed that all vaccines recommended by CDPH — which includes COVID-19 vaccines for anyone who wants them — “continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "The updated 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine is now rolling out across California. What to know about where to get yours — and what’s covered by insurance.",
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"title": "A New COVID Vaccine Is Here (Without Much Fanfare). When Should You Get It? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The new 2026-27 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/covid-19\">COVID-19\u003c/a> vaccine is here — although unlike in previous years, there’s a chance you might not even have heard about it yet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the updated shots last week. But this year, there’s been \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5947884/covid-flu-rsv-vaccine-recommendations\">no formal guidance\u003c/a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who should actually get it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the absence of any federal guidelines, the California Department of Public Health issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/IMM-1481.pdf#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=42181725-f337-476b-805b-39989c120200\">its own recommendations \u003c/a>on Friday about who should absolutely seek out the new COVID-19 shot. State health officials’ strongest recommendations are for everyone age 65 and older, those with risk factors that increase their chances of getting severe COVID-19, pregnant people, children age 6 to 23 months and healthcare workers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12053910\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/COVIDGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A new COVID-19 vaccine is now available. (Luis Alvarez/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the state also said that basically everyone else — or in their words, “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” — can get the 2026-27 COVID-19 shot, too, and that it’ll be covered by health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Six years out from the onset of the pandemic, the language around COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has definitely changed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how to understand the latest guidelines, why you’re not hearing anything from the CDC this year and when you should consider getting your own vaccine to lower your chances of getting a nasty bout of COVID-19 this fall and winter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, are appointments for the new 2026-27 COVID vaccines already available?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes: The new shots have already rolled out at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens around the state. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pharmacies are the first place that COVID vaccine supplies become available each fall right after the FDA and CDC sign off, because they take their orders from the federal government rather than the state. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the coming weeks, the updated 2026-27 COVID vaccine will soon become available at doctors’ offices, clinics and health systems like Kaiser Permanente.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re a parent wanting to vaccinate your kid sooner rather than later, however, remember: The state says that pharmacies \u003cem>aren’t\u003c/em> authorized to vaccinate children age two and under. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This means that unless your child is age three or older, you won’t be able to get their COVID shot at a pharmacy, and you should talk to your child’s pediatrician about how best to get their shot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The exception to this is CVS’s MinuteClinics, which are staffed by providers who are permitted to administer a COVID vaccine to kids age 18 months and older.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will my fall COVID shot still be covered by health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes: “All vaccines recommended by the California Department of Public Health continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California,” CDPH said in its Friday statement announcing its recommendations around the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One wrinkle to remember if you get your healthcare through a system like Kaiser Permanente: If you’re considering getting your COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy for convenience, rather than from your own provider, you usually \u003cem>can’t\u003c/em> get vaccines fully covered by your insurance. But, according to Kaiser, “you may be able to get up to \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">half of the cost \u003c/a>reimbursed.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re going the reimbursement route, bear in mind that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">the out-of-pocket cost of getting your COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> at CVS this year is now $278.99 — up 40% from $198.99 last year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cem>When \u003c/em>should I get my 2026-27 COVID shot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Higher-risk groups\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine is available to patients age 6 months and older, but California health officials are strongly recommending the updated vaccine for the following higher-risk groups:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Children:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>All children age 6-23 months\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All children age 2-18 years with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/populations-at-risk-covid.pdf\">risk factors\u003c/a> or who’ve never been vaccinated against COVID-19\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All children who are in close contact with others with risk factors\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Adults:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>All age 65 years and older\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Anyone who’s pregnant, planning to become pregnant or is postpartum\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Anyone age 9-64 years with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/populations-at-risk-covid.pdf\">risk factors\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All who are in close contact with others with risk factors\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>All healthcare workers\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033385\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1231697879_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A syringe is filled with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site inside Reuther Hall at Forty Acres on March 13, 2021, in Delano, California. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re in one of the above groups — meaning you’re either at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 yourself or at higher risk of spreading COVID-19 to others — it’s a good idea to seek out your updated vaccine soon, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are some populations who I just don’t want there to be any doubt about, because they’re very important,” Chin-Hong said. “I’m on the highest alert around them, because those are the people who are still coming into the hospital [with COVID-19], either inpatient or going to the emergency room.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a nutshell: If you’re one of the people in the list above, or your kid is, seek out your new COVID-19 shot as soon as you can.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See the full list of CDPH’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/publichealth4all/vaccines.aspx#table\">recommendations for respiratory vaccines\u003c/a> this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People who aren’t at higher risk\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you or your child isn’t listed in those higher-risk groups above, you fall into CDPH’s recommendation that “all who choose to reduce risk of severe illness” can still get the updated 2026-27 COVID-19 shot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what does that mean practically? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One thing to know: The Bay Area is still in a summer COVID wave, as shown by \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CoYBEAA4AUgAUgY1NzlkYTNSBjM3NDMwYVIGZTllODdlUgYwN2NlZDdSBjhhOWI0YlIGYzhkMzU3UgYyNTQ4MTlSBmRkMzZmYlIGZmEyZDYzUgZiNzIzYWVSBmJjNzlmOVIGODRkNDg5UgZkZGU4OGZaBk4gR2VuZXifAYoBBmQyY2RlNrgBiwg%3D&selectedChartId=d2cde6\">levels of coronavirus in the region’s wastewater\u003c/a> (aka human sewage). And “based on current patterns, we still have plenty of the current wave ahead of us,” said Dr. Matt Willis, the state’s correspondent for \u003ca href=\"https://yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com/\">Your Local Epidemiologist California, who was formerly Marin County’s public health officer at the height of the pandemic. “\u003c/a>It still hasn’t peaked, and then there’s a few weeks on the downslope to expect.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With that in mind, Willis told KQED by email that “if you want to be protected even if you’re not high risk, I would still go ahead and get the vaccine now.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In California, he said, “We haven’t really seen COVID-19 activity in the winter, at least judging from the past two years. So the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19 is likely higher for the next couple months than it may be for the rest of the year, until next summer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Of course, there are people — like Kaiser patients, or people who prefer to get their COVID vaccine at their own doctor’s office — who’ll be waiting to get their shot until supplies of the new vaccine become available beyond pharmacies. And Chin-Hong said there are other reasons some people might consider waiting a little, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a physician, “I put an exclamation point next to the people who I \u003cem>really \u003c/em>want to get it,” Chin-Hong said. But “for everyone else, it could be used strategically,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Getting the new vaccine will give you “a buffer for infection for about three months or so,” Chin-Hong said — and it’ll take around two weeks after getting your shot for your body to develop the fullest immunity. So you might consider strategically timing your updated COVID-19 shot to coincide with any travel you have coming up this fall, he said — or to have good protection for around the holidays.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A boy with a tuxedo T-shirt and a face mask holds his mother's hand as he receives a shot in the arm by a nurse.\" class=\"wp-image-11961112\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/005_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A child receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Sept. 12, 2023. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If just getting out to \u003cem>get \u003c/em>your vaccines is difficult, you could also opt to conveniently get your COVID shot and your flu shot during the same appointment in October, said Chin-Hong. As for that specific timing, it’s best to get your flu shot sometime before Halloween, he said, and you don’t want to get it \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early ahead of flu season, which might arrive a little later this year if Australia’s flu season — \u003ca href=\"https://www.today.com/health/cold-flu/flu-guide-2026-season-severity-symptoms-treatment-mrna-vaccine-rcna595714\">traditionally used as a barometer of what the U.S. can expect\u003c/a> — is any indicator.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, if you’re the kind of person whose calendar and obligations get packed in the fall and you’re concerned you’ll forget to get your shots altogether, release yourself from the burden of overstrategizing and just go get your vaccine when you can.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And remember: If you were one of the many folks in the Bay Area who got taken down by COVID-19 during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091325/summer-covid-test-2026-wastewater-variants-isolation-contagious-xfg-san-francisco-bay-area-california\">this summer’s ongoing wave\u003c/a>, your infection has given you around three months’ natural immunity — so you should wait until that “expires” before seeking out your latest COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will the new 2026-27 COVID shot protect me from the latest strains out there right now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — each year the COVID-19 vaccine is updated for maximum efficacy, to target the variants that are most likely to try to take you down this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The 2026-27 shot actually only targets one strain, XFG, “which is the number one strain right now circulating,” Chin-Hong said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>People infected with XFG have often reported a scratchy, hoarse throat that’s easily mistaken for allergies, along with the kind of primarily respiratory symptoms we’ve come to expect from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine — other than a pharmacy?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your healthcare provider, when available\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your healthcare provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and when.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1405\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028314\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1020x717.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1536x1079.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/FluGetty-1920x1349.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A CVS in Huntington Park on Aug. 28, 2024. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to talking with your healthcare provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it offers the ability to make appointments and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through My Turn, when available\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through your county, when available\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check your county’s public health website to see if the updated COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to residents, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I heard the FDA and CDC tried to restrict eligibility for COVID vaccines last year. Can I still get my shot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes — because California’s own recommendations overrule the federal government when it comes to you accessing this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To understand the backstory: In August 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">the FDA under President Donald Trump’s second administration announced\u003c/a> that the agency would be limiting eligibility for the updated shots for the first time — and that the 2025-26 vaccines would be available only to people age 65 and over and to anyone with a health condition that puts them at higher risk from COVID-19. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At first, the shots rolled out across California pharmacies only for these groups. But shortly after, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would join Oregon and Washington in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">launching a new “West Coast Health Alliance,”\u003c/a> a coalition that now issues its own state-specific vaccine recommendations — effectively overriding the FDA and CDC’s attempts to limit eligibility for your COVID-19 vaccine in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (left), looks on during an election night gathering at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a joint statement, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">the governors said the CDC had “become a political tool\u003c/a> that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences,” adding that “California, Oregon and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">Newsom has also signed a law\u003c/a> which now allows the state to act independently from the CDC when it comes to vaccine recommendations, “empowering California to chart its own path and reject corrupted federal guidelines,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. As for how California is able to expand beyond the FDA’s eligibility restrictions, that FDA decision affects what’s called the vaccine’s “label” — and California is now making the shot available to people outside of the FDA’s limitations “off-label.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And what about the CDC, which has issued annual recommendations for who should get these vaccines since they were first released in 2021? In summer 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dissolved the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel and \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-chief-kennedy-names-new-members-vaccine-advisory-committee-2025-06-11/\">replaced its members with a number of doctors and researchers\u003c/a> who have repeatedly questioned the safety of commonly used vaccines and ingredients.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But after a lawsuit earlier this year that blocked \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/16/nx-s1-5749530/judge-blocks-rfk-jr-vaccine-changes\">the Trump administration’s efforts \u003c/a>to reduce routine vaccines for children, the CDC’s process for issuing annual vaccine guidelines — including COVID-19 — remains in limbo, and for the first time since 2021, the agency has released no formal guidelines for the COVID-19 shot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The CDC’s recommendations used to be what insurance companies based their coverage on when it comes to vaccines. But the state has confirmed that all vaccines recommended by CDPH — which includes COVID-19 vaccines for anyone who wants them — “continue to be covered by health insurance regulated in California.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "medi-cal-wont-pay-for-assisted-living-in-most-of-california-one-brother-fought-back",
"title": "Medi-Cal Won’t Pay for Assisted Living in Most of California. One Brother Fought Back",
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"headTitle": "Medi-Cal Won’t Pay for Assisted Living in Most of California. One Brother Fought Back | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/whatmatters\">WhatMatters\u003c/a> to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last summer, siblings Roselie and John Aiello decided it was time for Roselie to leave her home of 73 years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Raised on a cattle ranch in the small town of Mount Shasta, Roselie spent her life working as a butcher and handling animals, assisting her father until his death. When her three brothers moved away, she stayed at home on the ranch, with its winding dirt roads and green pastures. But over the years, the hard manual labor left her bones weak and her back curved, slowing her pace. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John moved back to the ranch in far \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/northern-california\">Northern California\u003c/a> to take care of Roselie, who needed some assistance with showering and getting dressed. But these tasks began to weigh on John as he balanced his career as a writer with tending to the land, which was getting more difficult for Roselie to navigate. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The two siblings made a decision: Roselie, who qualified for Medicaid, would move into assisted living. John would find an appropriate place for her to live and receive care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when John tried to apply for assisted living benefits on his sister’s behalf, he found that Medi-Cal — California’s version of Medicaid — does not offer a waiver to pay for assisted living care in Siskiyou County, nor does it in 42 others across the state. Only \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/long-term-care-alternatives-home-and-community-based-service-options/assisted-living-waiver/\">15 California counties\u003c/a>, most of them urban, offer this option.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This has created geographic disparity that gives aging adults in urban areas more options for care than those in rural areas, pushing Northern California seniors like Roselie Aiello into nursing homes or out of their communities, not because they need that level of care, but because they can’t afford to pay out of pocket for assisted living. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re wasting money by dumping somebody like my sister in a skilled nursing facility and lessening her quality of life and her chance at doing better,” John said. “By doing this, it makes no fundamental sense.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098658\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roselie Aiello at Sundial Assisted Living in Shasta County on March 25, 2026. \u003cbr> (Jessica Blough for CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098659\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098659\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roselie Aiello at Sundial Assisted Living in Shasta County on March 25, 2026. (Jessica Blough for CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the coming decade, many more Californians may face the same predicament, given that one in four will be older than 60. As the state prepares for this explosion in the older adult population, it is prioritizing the ability to age in community-based settings like homes or assisted living facilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But availability of assisted living options varies county to county and is based on decisions by the various managed care providers contracted to deliver healthcare to the state’s lowest-income residents.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s not a lot of options to begin with in rural counties. You take (the assisted living waiver) off a table, which already has a history of a long waiting list, and the options are pretty bleak,” said Maura Gibney, executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr />\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/PCZuA/\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Partnership HealthPlan, which Roselie Aiello is enrolled in, contracts with the state to provide coverage to almost a million Californians on Medi-Cal, making it the largest Medi-Cal managed care plan in Northern California. It is the only Medi-Cal managed care plan available in a separate set of 15 California counties. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Managed care providers are encouraged, but not required, to offer as many “\u003ca href=\"https://calaim.dhcs.ca.gov/pages/community-supports\">community supports\u003c/a>” as they can, Tessa Outhyse, a spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services, said in an email. CalAIM, the state’s multiyear initiative to overhaul Medi-Cal, includes community supports such as assistance transitioning to an assisted living facility as well as transitional rent, caregiver respite and personal care services. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These services are intended to offer healthcare options to Medi-Cal members before their conditions escalate to needing more serious care, therefore saving money. Even when CalAIM’s current waivers expire at the end of the year, the community supports benefits will continue through the managed care plans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When determining which supports to offer, managed care plans take into consideration provider availability and local capacity to offer care, Outhyse said. Partnership chose not to offer assisted living support based on financial factors and a lack of appropriate facilities in the rural areas where it provides care, said Dustin Lyda, spokesperson for the organization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lyda said any change in what the organization offers would require proof that assisted living facilities would be safer and healthier for members than nursing homes. But he acknowledged that options are more limited for rural members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s definitely a lot more work that we need to do on our end to navigate the more rural areas,” Lyda said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hitting-roadblocks\">Hitting roadblocks\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When John Aiello heard about assisted living benefits through Medi-Cal, he saw it as the perfect match for his sister’s needs. He knew that he likely would have to move her out of Siskiyou County, where there was only one facility for Medi-Cal recipients, a nursing home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Roselie had spent some time at an assisted living facility in neighboring Shasta County, which they saw as a better fit. But Partnership didn’t offer assisted living as a community support in that county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, the provider offered Roselie a waiver to go into assisted living in Sonoma County, which is about five hours from her home. The Aiellos turned that down, thinking it would not be good for Roselie. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you remove her totally from a family contact, she would not be thriving right now. She needs to see family,” John Aiello said. “When there were resources available that fit her needs in Redding — that’s the closest point to her home county — why do I need to move her to Oakland, to Los Angeles, to San Diego?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the course of nine months, John sent dozens of emails and spent hours on phone calls to get Partnership HealthPlan to cover Roselie’s placement in assisted living. He had the support of her doctor and a spot for Roselie at the residence in Shasta County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The process was so intense and frustrating that it drove a wedge between him and his sister in their final months of living together. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“He was doing all of this to help me,” Roselie said. “Where was it going to end?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"encouraged-or-required\">Encouraged or required? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most people prefer community-based services over skilled nursing care, which is \u003ca href=\"https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/research-policy/publications/pdfs/briefs/hcbs-improve-outcomes-and-reduce-costs.pdf\">generally more expensive\u003c/a>. But nursing home beds are in short supply and should be reserved for those who truly need them, Gibney said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We really try to help people look at the other options that exist for remaining in the community,” Gibney said. “You’re going to have better health outcomes, better quality of care, if you can stay in the community and out of an institutional setting.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Research indicates that while assisted living may provide better outcomes for some, people in assisted living are more likely than nursing home residents to be hospitalized, which can drive up costs, said Dr. Kenneth Lam, a geriatrician and assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The evidence suggests that it’s a trade-off,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Contracts for managed care plans are not competitively bid, Outhyse said. And potential contractors aren’t asked to include specific community supports, such as assisted living, in their managed care plans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whether a plan chooses to provide specific community supports is not a factor in contract renewal, which focuses instead on overall compliance with state and federal performance standards,” Outhyse wrote in the email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Partnership’s contract with the state was set to expire in December, but will be extended until 2029 because the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/ManagedCarePlanProcurementUpdate.aspx\">delayed\u003c/a> the process of soliciting managed care contracts. Lyda said Partnership is facing increasing demand for its community supports — which mainly address social needs, such as housing and food security — and for assisted living benefits. But even people in counties where the managed care provider offers an assisted living benefit can have a long wait for placement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After years of constant increases, the number of Californians receiving an assisted living waiver for the first time dropped at the beginning of 2025, though the waitlist continued to climb. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By September, the number of Californians waiting for a waiver had surpassed the number of people who were being supported by it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr />\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kH9D7\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gibney said that Medi-Cal members are often encouraged to get on the waitlist before applying for assisted living funding, which could contribute to the long wait. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Older adults might spend months on a waitlist, only to be told that they are ineligible for assisted living coverage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a lot of shifting sand, that’s what people are finding themselves in the middle of,” Lam said. “They’re being told that they get to choose, but it’s a complex choice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-new-home\">A new home\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, Roselie moved into her new home, Sundial Assisted Living, the Shasta County facility where she had previously spent some time. Two months earlier, Partnership had informed the Aiellos that it would cover Roselie’s assisted living care. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Partnership offered Roselie early access to a pilot program that launched on July 1, which extends the assisted living options to select members of the network. There will be no open application process, but members can ask to be considered or referred through a healthcare provider. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The goal is to discover if offering the assisted living option will provide better health outcomes at a lower price.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Success would also be having these individuals being able to continue to receive care within their community setting, being in their home,” Lyda said. “We know that that is more impactful to health than being completely taken out of a familiar area.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The adjustment has not been easy for Roselie. She has been hospitalized twice since she moved to Sundial and briefly entered a nursing home. \u003cs> \u003c/s>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Socially, things have gone better. Roselie has made friends and is often called on to teach card games to her fellow Sundial residents. While she was hospitalized, her neighbors and caretakers at Sundial visited her. She’s grateful to John for navigating through red tape to get her here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m looking at it like this: It’s a new adventure,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John worries about his sister’s health issues and whether Sundial will be a long-term solution for her. He’s gratified that his fight ended with his sister’s placement in their chosen facility. But he resents having to wage the battle.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I don’t understand why I was the guy fighting for everybody,” John said. “I’m just one person trying to support myself, trying to take care of a family member.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jessica Blough reported on this story while with the\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://journalism.berkeley.edu/programs/mj/investigative-reporting/\">\u003cem>Investigative Reporting Program\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>at UC Berkeley Journalism School, with a grant from\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.thescanfoundation.org/\">\u003cem>The SCAN Foundation\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Last summer, siblings Roselie and John Aiello decided it was time for Roselie to leave her home of 73 years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Raised on a cattle ranch in the small town of Mount Shasta, Roselie spent her life working as a butcher and handling animals, assisting her father until his death. When her three brothers moved away, she stayed at home on the ranch, with its winding dirt roads and green pastures. But over the years, the hard manual labor left her bones weak and her back curved, slowing her pace. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>John moved back to the ranch in far \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/northern-california\">Northern California\u003c/a> to take care of Roselie, who needed some assistance with showering and getting dressed. But these tasks began to weigh on John as he balanced his career as a writer with tending to the land, which was getting more difficult for Roselie to navigate. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The two siblings made a decision: Roselie, who qualified for Medicaid, would move into assisted living. John would find an appropriate place for her to live and receive care.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But when John tried to apply for assisted living benefits on his sister’s behalf, he found that Medi-Cal — California’s version of Medicaid — does not offer a waiver to pay for assisted living care in Siskiyou County, nor does it in 42 others across the state. Only \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/long-term-care-alternatives-home-and-community-based-service-options/assisted-living-waiver/\">15 California counties\u003c/a>, most of them urban, offer this option.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This has created geographic disparity that gives aging adults in urban areas more options for care than those in rural areas, pushing Northern California seniors like Roselie Aiello into nursing homes or out of their communities, not because they need that level of care, but because they can’t afford to pay out of pocket for assisted living. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You’re wasting money by dumping somebody like my sister in a skilled nursing facility and lessening her quality of life and her chance at doing better,” John said. “By doing this, it makes no fundamental sense.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the coming decade, many more Californians may face the same predicament, given that one in four will be older than 60. As the state prepares for this explosion in the older adult population, it is prioritizing the ability to age in community-based settings like homes or assisted living facilities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But availability of assisted living options varies county to county and is based on decisions by the various managed care providers contracted to deliver healthcare to the state’s lowest-income residents.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s not a lot of options to begin with in rural counties. You take (the assisted living waiver) off a table, which already has a history of a long waiting list, and the options are pretty bleak,” said Maura Gibney, executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Partnership HealthPlan, which Roselie Aiello is enrolled in, contracts with the state to provide coverage to almost a million Californians on Medi-Cal, making it the largest Medi-Cal managed care plan in Northern California. It is the only Medi-Cal managed care plan available in a separate set of 15 California counties. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Managed care providers are encouraged, but not required, to offer as many “\u003ca href=\"https://calaim.dhcs.ca.gov/pages/community-supports\">community supports\u003c/a>” as they can, Tessa Outhyse, a spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services, said in an email. CalAIM, the state’s multiyear initiative to overhaul Medi-Cal, includes community supports such as assistance transitioning to an assisted living facility as well as transitional rent, caregiver respite and personal care services. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When determining which supports to offer, managed care plans take into consideration provider availability and local capacity to offer care, Outhyse said. Partnership chose not to offer assisted living support based on financial factors and a lack of appropriate facilities in the rural areas where it provides care, said Dustin Lyda, spokesperson for the organization. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lyda said any change in what the organization offers would require proof that assisted living facilities would be safer and healthier for members than nursing homes. But he acknowledged that options are more limited for rural members. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s definitely a lot more work that we need to do on our end to navigate the more rural areas,” Lyda said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When John Aiello heard about assisted living benefits through Medi-Cal, he saw it as the perfect match for his sister’s needs. He knew that he likely would have to move her out of Siskiyou County, where there was only one facility for Medi-Cal recipients, a nursing home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Roselie had spent some time at an assisted living facility in neighboring Shasta County, which they saw as a better fit. But Partnership didn’t offer assisted living as a community support in that county. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, the provider offered Roselie a waiver to go into assisted living in Sonoma County, which is about five hours from her home. The Aiellos turned that down, thinking it would not be good for Roselie. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you remove her totally from a family contact, she would not be thriving right now. She needs to see family,” John Aiello said. “When there were resources available that fit her needs in Redding — that’s the closest point to her home county — why do I need to move her to Oakland, to Los Angeles, to San Diego?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the course of nine months, John sent dozens of emails and spent hours on phone calls to get Partnership HealthPlan to cover Roselie’s placement in assisted living. He had the support of her doctor and a spot for Roselie at the residence in Shasta County. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over the course of nine months, John sent dozens of emails and spent hours on phone calls to get Partnership HealthPlan to cover Roselie’s placement in assisted living. He had the support of her doctor and a spot for Roselie at the residence in Shasta County. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“He was doing all of this to help me,” Roselie said. “Where was it going to end?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most people prefer community-based services over skilled nursing care, which is \u003ca href=\"https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/research-policy/publications/pdfs/briefs/hcbs-improve-outcomes-and-reduce-costs.pdf\">generally more expensive\u003c/a>. But nursing home beds are in short supply and should be reserved for those who truly need them, Gibney said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We really try to help people look at the other options that exist for remaining in the community,” Gibney said. “You’re going to have better health outcomes, better quality of care, if you can stay in the community and out of an institutional setting.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We really try to help people look at the other options that exist for remaining in the community,” Gibney said. “You’re going to have better health outcomes, better quality of care, if you can stay in the community and out of an institutional setting.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Research indicates that while assisted living may provide better outcomes for some, people in assisted living are more likely than nursing home residents to be hospitalized, which can drive up costs, said Dr. Kenneth Lam, a geriatrician and assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Contracts for managed care plans are not competitively bid, Outhyse said. And potential contractors aren’t asked to include specific community supports, such as assisted living, in their managed care plans.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Whether a plan chooses to provide specific community supports is not a factor in contract renewal, which focuses instead on overall compliance with state and federal performance standards,” Outhyse wrote in the email.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Partnership’s contract with the state was set to expire in December, but will be extended until 2029 because the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/ManagedCarePlanProcurementUpdate.aspx\">delayed\u003c/a> the process of soliciting managed care contracts. Lyda said Partnership is facing increasing demand for its community supports — which mainly address social needs, such as housing and food security — and for assisted living benefits. But even people in counties where the managed care provider offers an assisted living benefit can have a long wait for placement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Partnership’s contract with the state was set to expire in December, but will be extended until 2029 because the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/ManagedCarePlanProcurementUpdate.aspx\">delayed\u003c/a> the process of soliciting managed care contracts. Lyda said Partnership is facing increasing demand for its community supports — which mainly address social needs, such as housing and food security — and for assisted living benefits. But even people in counties where the managed care provider offers an assisted living benefit can have a long wait for placement. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After years of constant increases, the number of Californians receiving an assisted living waiver for the first time dropped at the beginning of 2025, though the waitlist continued to climb. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By September, the number of Californians waiting for a waiver had surpassed the number of people who were being supported by it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gibney said that Medi-Cal members are often encouraged to get on the waitlist before applying for assisted living funding, which could contribute to the long wait. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Older adults might spend months on a waitlist, only to be told that they are ineligible for assisted living coverage. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s a lot of shifting sand, that’s what people are finding themselves in the middle of,” Lam said. “They’re being told that they get to choose, but it’s a complex choice.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In March, Roselie moved into her new home, Sundial Assisted Living, the Shasta County facility where she had previously spent some time. Two months earlier, Partnership had informed the Aiellos that it would cover Roselie’s assisted living care. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Partnership offered Roselie early access to a pilot program that launched on July 1, which extends the assisted living options to select members of the network. There will be no open application process, but members can ask to be considered or referred through a healthcare provider. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The goal is to discover if offering the assisted living option will provide better health outcomes at a lower price.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Success would also be having these individuals being able to continue to receive care within their community setting, being in their home,” Lyda said. “We know that that is more impactful to health than being completely taken out of a familiar area.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The adjustment has not been easy for Roselie. She has been hospitalized twice since she moved to Sundial and briefly entered a nursing home. \u003cs> \u003c/s>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Socially, things have gone better. Roselie has made friends and is often called on to teach card games to her fellow Sundial residents. While she was hospitalized, her neighbors and caretakers at Sundial visited her. She’s grateful to John for navigating through red tape to get her here. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>John worries about his sister’s health issues and whether Sundial will be a long-term solution for her. He’s gratified that his fight ended with his sister’s placement in their chosen facility. But he resents having to wage the battle.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>John worries about his sister’s health issues and whether Sundial will be a long-term solution for her. He’s gratified that his fight ended with his sister’s placement in their chosen facility. But he resents having to wage the battle.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I don’t understand why I was the guy fighting for everybody,” John said. “I’m just one person trying to support myself, trying to take care of a family member.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jessica Blough reported on this story while with the\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://journalism.berkeley.edu/programs/mj/investigative-reporting/\">\u003cem>Investigative Reporting Program\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>at UC Berkeley Journalism School, with a grant from\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.thescanfoundation.org/\">\u003cem>The SCAN Foundation\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A pilot program providing more assisted living coverage in rural California has emerged from one man’s fight to change his sister’s options.",
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"title": "Medi-Cal Won’t Pay for Assisted Living in Most of California. One Brother Fought Back | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/whatmatters\">WhatMatters\u003c/a> to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last summer, siblings Roselie and John Aiello decided it was time for Roselie to leave her home of 73 years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Raised on a cattle ranch in the small town of Mount Shasta, Roselie spent her life working as a butcher and handling animals, assisting her father until his death. When her three brothers moved away, she stayed at home on the ranch, with its winding dirt roads and green pastures. But over the years, the hard manual labor left her bones weak and her back curved, slowing her pace. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John moved back to the ranch in far \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/northern-california\">Northern California\u003c/a> to take care of Roselie, who needed some assistance with showering and getting dressed. But these tasks began to weigh on John as he balanced his career as a writer with tending to the land, which was getting more difficult for Roselie to navigate. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The two siblings made a decision: Roselie, who qualified for Medicaid, would move into assisted living. John would find an appropriate place for her to live and receive care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when John tried to apply for assisted living benefits on his sister’s behalf, he found that Medi-Cal — California’s version of Medicaid — does not offer a waiver to pay for assisted living care in Siskiyou County, nor does it in 42 others across the state. Only \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/long-term-care-alternatives-home-and-community-based-service-options/assisted-living-waiver/\">15 California counties\u003c/a>, most of them urban, offer this option.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This has created geographic disparity that gives aging adults in urban areas more options for care than those in rural areas, pushing Northern California seniors like Roselie Aiello into nursing homes or out of their communities, not because they need that level of care, but because they can’t afford to pay out of pocket for assisted living. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re wasting money by dumping somebody like my sister in a skilled nursing facility and lessening her quality of life and her chance at doing better,” John said. “By doing this, it makes no fundamental sense.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098658\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roselie Aiello at Sundial Assisted Living in Shasta County on March 25, 2026. \u003cbr> (Jessica Blough for CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098659\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098659\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CMHealthCare3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roselie Aiello at Sundial Assisted Living in Shasta County on March 25, 2026. (Jessica Blough for CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the coming decade, many more Californians may face the same predicament, given that one in four will be older than 60. As the state prepares for this explosion in the older adult population, it is prioritizing the ability to age in community-based settings like homes or assisted living facilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But availability of assisted living options varies county to county and is based on decisions by the various managed care providers contracted to deliver healthcare to the state’s lowest-income residents.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s not a lot of options to begin with in rural counties. You take (the assisted living waiver) off a table, which already has a history of a long waiting list, and the options are pretty bleak,” said Maura Gibney, executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr />\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/PCZuA/\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Partnership HealthPlan, which Roselie Aiello is enrolled in, contracts with the state to provide coverage to almost a million Californians on Medi-Cal, making it the largest Medi-Cal managed care plan in Northern California. It is the only Medi-Cal managed care plan available in a separate set of 15 California counties. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Managed care providers are encouraged, but not required, to offer as many “\u003ca href=\"https://calaim.dhcs.ca.gov/pages/community-supports\">community supports\u003c/a>” as they can, Tessa Outhyse, a spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services, said in an email. CalAIM, the state’s multiyear initiative to overhaul Medi-Cal, includes community supports such as assistance transitioning to an assisted living facility as well as transitional rent, caregiver respite and personal care services. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These services are intended to offer healthcare options to Medi-Cal members before their conditions escalate to needing more serious care, therefore saving money. Even when CalAIM’s current waivers expire at the end of the year, the community supports benefits will continue through the managed care plans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When determining which supports to offer, managed care plans take into consideration provider availability and local capacity to offer care, Outhyse said. Partnership chose not to offer assisted living support based on financial factors and a lack of appropriate facilities in the rural areas where it provides care, said Dustin Lyda, spokesperson for the organization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lyda said any change in what the organization offers would require proof that assisted living facilities would be safer and healthier for members than nursing homes. But he acknowledged that options are more limited for rural members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s definitely a lot more work that we need to do on our end to navigate the more rural areas,” Lyda said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hitting-roadblocks\">Hitting roadblocks\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When John Aiello heard about assisted living benefits through Medi-Cal, he saw it as the perfect match for his sister’s needs. He knew that he likely would have to move her out of Siskiyou County, where there was only one facility for Medi-Cal recipients, a nursing home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Roselie had spent some time at an assisted living facility in neighboring Shasta County, which they saw as a better fit. But Partnership didn’t offer assisted living as a community support in that county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, the provider offered Roselie a waiver to go into assisted living in Sonoma County, which is about five hours from her home. The Aiellos turned that down, thinking it would not be good for Roselie. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you remove her totally from a family contact, she would not be thriving right now. She needs to see family,” John Aiello said. “When there were resources available that fit her needs in Redding — that’s the closest point to her home county — why do I need to move her to Oakland, to Los Angeles, to San Diego?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the course of nine months, John sent dozens of emails and spent hours on phone calls to get Partnership HealthPlan to cover Roselie’s placement in assisted living. He had the support of her doctor and a spot for Roselie at the residence in Shasta County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The process was so intense and frustrating that it drove a wedge between him and his sister in their final months of living together. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“He was doing all of this to help me,” Roselie said. “Where was it going to end?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"encouraged-or-required\">Encouraged or required? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most people prefer community-based services over skilled nursing care, which is \u003ca href=\"https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/research-policy/publications/pdfs/briefs/hcbs-improve-outcomes-and-reduce-costs.pdf\">generally more expensive\u003c/a>. But nursing home beds are in short supply and should be reserved for those who truly need them, Gibney said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We really try to help people look at the other options that exist for remaining in the community,” Gibney said. “You’re going to have better health outcomes, better quality of care, if you can stay in the community and out of an institutional setting.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Research indicates that while assisted living may provide better outcomes for some, people in assisted living are more likely than nursing home residents to be hospitalized, which can drive up costs, said Dr. Kenneth Lam, a geriatrician and assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The evidence suggests that it’s a trade-off,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Contracts for managed care plans are not competitively bid, Outhyse said. And potential contractors aren’t asked to include specific community supports, such as assisted living, in their managed care plans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whether a plan chooses to provide specific community supports is not a factor in contract renewal, which focuses instead on overall compliance with state and federal performance standards,” Outhyse wrote in the email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Partnership’s contract with the state was set to expire in December, but will be extended until 2029 because the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/ManagedCarePlanProcurementUpdate.aspx\">delayed\u003c/a> the process of soliciting managed care contracts. Lyda said Partnership is facing increasing demand for its community supports — which mainly address social needs, such as housing and food security — and for assisted living benefits. But even people in counties where the managed care provider offers an assisted living benefit can have a long wait for placement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After years of constant increases, the number of Californians receiving an assisted living waiver for the first time dropped at the beginning of 2025, though the waitlist continued to climb. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By September, the number of Californians waiting for a waiver had surpassed the number of people who were being supported by it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr />\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kH9D7\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gibney said that Medi-Cal members are often encouraged to get on the waitlist before applying for assisted living funding, which could contribute to the long wait. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Older adults might spend months on a waitlist, only to be told that they are ineligible for assisted living coverage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a lot of shifting sand, that’s what people are finding themselves in the middle of,” Lam said. “They’re being told that they get to choose, but it’s a complex choice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-new-home\">A new home\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, Roselie moved into her new home, Sundial Assisted Living, the Shasta County facility where she had previously spent some time. Two months earlier, Partnership had informed the Aiellos that it would cover Roselie’s assisted living care. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Partnership offered Roselie early access to a pilot program that launched on July 1, which extends the assisted living options to select members of the network. There will be no open application process, but members can ask to be considered or referred through a healthcare provider. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The goal is to discover if offering the assisted living option will provide better health outcomes at a lower price.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Success would also be having these individuals being able to continue to receive care within their community setting, being in their home,” Lyda said. “We know that that is more impactful to health than being completely taken out of a familiar area.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The adjustment has not been easy for Roselie. She has been hospitalized twice since she moved to Sundial and briefly entered a nursing home. \u003cs> \u003c/s>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Socially, things have gone better. Roselie has made friends and is often called on to teach card games to her fellow Sundial residents. While she was hospitalized, her neighbors and caretakers at Sundial visited her. She’s grateful to John for navigating through red tape to get her here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m looking at it like this: It’s a new adventure,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John worries about his sister’s health issues and whether Sundial will be a long-term solution for her. He’s gratified that his fight ended with his sister’s placement in their chosen facility. But he resents having to wage the battle.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I don’t understand why I was the guy fighting for everybody,” John said. “I’m just one person trying to support myself, trying to take care of a family member.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jessica Blough reported on this story while with the\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://journalism.berkeley.edu/programs/mj/investigative-reporting/\">\u003cem>Investigative Reporting Program\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>at UC Berkeley Journalism School, with a grant from\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.thescanfoundation.org/\">\u003cem>The SCAN Foundation\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"soldout": {
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"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
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"info": "",
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