Making America Again Danielle Allen, George Packer, and Adam Serwer on How to Build a More Perfect Union MAKING AMERICA AGAIN OCTOBER 2020 THEATLANTIC.COM
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
OCTOBER 2020 THEATLANTIC.COM Making America Again Danielle Allen, George Packer, and Adam Serwer on how to build a more perfect union MAKING AMERICA AGAIN OCTOBER 2020 THEATLANTIC.COM 1020_Cover [Print]_14115377.indd 1 8/17/2020 4:19:49 PM Will the world always be this unpredictable? Will my portfolio weather the storm? How can I be sure? For some of life’s questions, you’re not alone. 5PHFUIFSXFDBOÎOEBOBOTXFS "TBŖSNQSPWJEJOHXFBMUINBOBHFNFOUTFSWJDFTUPDMJFOUT 6#4'JOBODJBM4FSWJDFT*ODPšFSTJOWFTUNFOUBEWJTPSZTFSWJDFTJOJUTDBQBDJUZBTBO 4&$SFHJTUFSFEJOWFTUNFOUBEWJTFSBOECSPLFSBHFTFSWJDFTJOJUTDBQBDJUZBTBO4&$SFHJTUFSFECSPLFSEFBMFS*OWFTUNFOUBEWJTPSZTFSWJDFTBOE CSPLFSBHFTFSWJDFTBSFTFQBSBUFBOEEJTUJODU EJšFSJONBUFSJBMXBZTBOEBSFHPWFSOFECZEJšFSFOUMBXTBOETFQBSBUFBSSBOHFNFOUT*UJT JNQPSUBOUUIBUDMJFOUTVOEFSTUBOEUIFXBZTJOXIJDIXFDPOEVDUCVTJOFTT UIBUUIFZDBSFGVMMZSFBEUIFBHSFFNFOUTBOEEJTDMPTVSFTUIBUXF QSPWJEFUPUIFNBCPVUUIFQSPEVDUTPSTFSWJDFTXFPšFS'PSNPSFJOGPSNBUJPO QMFBTFSFWJFXUIF1%'EPDVNFOUBUVCTDPNSFMBUJPOTIJQ TVNNBSZh6#4"MMSJHIUTSFTFSWFE6#4'JOBODJBM4FSWJDFT*ODJTBTVCTJEJBSZPG6#4"(.FNCFS'*/3"4*1$ Will the world always be this unpredictable? Will my portfolio weather the storm? How can I be sure? For some of life’s questions, you’re not alone. 5PHFUIFSXFDBOÎOEBOBOTXFS "TBŖSNQSPWJEJOHXFBMUINBOBHFNFOUTFSWJDFTUPDMJFOUT 6#4'JOBODJBM4FSWJDFT*ODPšFSTJOWFTUNFOUBEWJTPSZTFSWJDFTJOJUTDBQBDJUZBTBO 4&$SFHJTUFSFEJOWFTUNFOUBEWJTFSBOECSPLFSBHFTFSWJDFTJOJUTDBQBDJUZBTBO4&$SFHJTUFSFECSPLFSEFBMFS*OWFTUNFOUBEWJTPSZTFSWJDFTBOE CSPLFSBHFTFSWJDFTBSFTFQBSBUFBOEEJTUJODU EJšFSJONBUFSJBMXBZTBOEBSFHPWFSOFECZEJšFSFOUMBXTBOETFQBSBUFBSSBOHFNFOUT*UJT JNQPSUBOUUIBUDMJFOUTVOEFSTUBOEUIFXBZTJOXIJDIXFDPOEVDUCVTJOFTT UIBUUIFZDBSFGVMMZSFBEUIFBHSFFNFOUTBOEEJTDMPTVSFTUIBUXF QSPWJEFUPUIFNBCPVUUIFQSPEVDUTPSTFSWJDFTXFPšFS'PSNPSFJOGPSNBUJPO QMFBTFSFWJFXUIF1%'EPDVNFOUBUVCTDPNSFMBUJPOTIJQ TVNNBSZh6#4"MMSJHIUTSFTFSWFE6#4'JOBODJBM4FSWJDFT*ODJTBTVCTJEJBSZPG6#4"(.FNCFS'*/3"4*1$ This content was created by Atlantic Re:think, the branded content studio at The Atlantic,Atlantic, andand mademade possiblepossible SPONSOR CONTENT SPONSOR CONTENT by the Alzheimer’s Association. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Atlantic’s editorialeditorial staff.staff. The Pandemic’s Hidden Victims Nursing homes and other When Don Petersen last visited his wife, Judi, they binge-watched classic TV shows assisted-living communities together. He didn’t realize at the time that have become COVID-19 those episodes of I Love Lucy and The Andy hot spots, garnering Griffith Show would mark the beginning of a months-long forced separation from his headlines across the country. spouse of 55 years. Before the COVID-19 pan- But many don’t know that demic, Petersen visited his wife five days a people with Alzheimer’s and week at the Portland, Oregon, assisted-liv- ing community where she receives care for other dementias in those Alzheimer’s disease. Now those visits have It doesn’t have to be this way, experts at communities like never before,” says Rob- As the Alzheimer’s Association con- communities are especially stopped entirely. the Alzheimer’s Association note. The ert Egge, chief public-policy officer of the tinues to advocate for long-term care Petersen fears that his 76- vulnerable—and they need nonprofit recently issued a set of policy Alzheimer’s Association. communities, residents and their loved year-old wife could decline if recommendations that calls on state and Individuals with Alzheimer’s in such ones are doing their best to get by in trying more support. her loved ones continue to keep federal lawmakers to provide more sup- communities are particularly vulnerable. circumstances. Dan Goerke, for one, uses their distance. She’s not the only port for nursing homes and assisted-living More than 95 percent of people with Alz- FaceTime and does window visits to stay in one at risk. People with demen- communities during the pandemic. If they heimer’s and other forms of dementia have touch with his wife, Denise, who was diag- tia, including Alzheimer’s, make had the resources to accelerate COVID-19 an additional chronic health condition— nosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012 and now up 48 percent of the population testing, immediately report cases to public such as diabetes, heart disease, or hyper- resides at an Atlanta-area assisted-living in nursing homes and 42 percent health officials, and deploy “strike teams” tension—which increases the likelihood of community. “COVID has absolutely had a of the population in long-term to virus hot spots, these communities complications from COVID-19. Dementia, downward effect on Denise,” Goerke says. care communities. For this could allow families to reunite sooner than meanwhile, makes it more challenging for While Goerke says Denise’s mood has group, isolation during the later. “If we had testing, then family mem- these individuals to protect themselves been improving lately, he suspects she pandemic is a serious bers could come visit,” says Beth Kallmyer, from the disease, because it renders them won’t be back to her old self until they’re health issue. MSW, vice president of care and support unable to discuss their needs or symptoms. reunited. He’s willing to have his tempera- for the Alzheimer’s Association. There have been signs of progress on ture taken, wear as much PPE as possible, Instead, nursing homes and assisted- this issue at the state level. Maryland, for and even have timed visits. He just doesn’t living communities remain in crisis due to instance, has been using strike teams to want his wife to be isolated. “There is so inaccurate reporting of coronavirus cases, respond to COVID-19 clusters at nursing much to just the physical touch of holding a lack of institutional transparency, and homes. Still, the Alzheimer’s Association someone’s hand that brightens their day,” insufficient access to testing equipment continues to field reports about nursing- he says. “Denise often doesn’t acknowl- and personal protective equipment (PPE). home staff bringing their own PPE to work edge the fact that I’m holding her hand or “This clearly is straining long-term care because employers aren’t able to provide it. touching her face, but I know it helps.” Illustrations by Laura Edelbacher Learn more at TheAtlantic.com/AlzheimersandCovid This content was created by Atlantic Re:think, the branded content studio at The Atlantic,Atlantic, andand mademade possiblepossible SPONSOR CONTENT SPONSOR CONTENT by the Alzheimer’s Association. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Atlantic’s editorialeditorial staff.staff. The Pandemic’s Hidden Victims Nursing homes and other When Don Petersen last visited his wife, Judi, they binge-watched classic TV shows assisted-living communities together. He didn’t realize at the time that have become COVID-19 those episodes of I Love Lucy and The Andy hot spots, garnering Griffith Show would mark the beginning of a months-long forced separation from his headlines across the country. spouse of 55 years. Before the COVID-19 pan- But many don’t know that demic, Petersen visited his wife five days a people with Alzheimer’s and week at the Portland, Oregon, assisted-liv- ing community where she receives care for other dementias in those Alzheimer’s disease. Now those visits have It doesn’t have to be this way, experts at communities like never before,” says Rob- As the Alzheimer’s Association con- communities are especially stopped entirely. the Alzheimer’s Association note. The ert Egge, chief public-policy officer of the tinues to advocate for long-term care Petersen fears that his 76- vulnerable—and they need nonprofit recently issued a set of policy Alzheimer’s Association. communities, residents and their loved year-old wife could decline if recommendations that calls on state and Individuals with Alzheimer’s in such ones are doing their best to get by in trying more support. her loved ones continue to keep federal lawmakers to provide more sup- communities are particularly vulnerable. circumstances. Dan Goerke, for one, uses their distance. She’s not the only port for nursing homes and assisted-living More than 95 percent of people with Alz- FaceTime and does window visits to stay in one at risk. People with demen- communities during the pandemic. If they heimer’s and other forms of dementia have touch with his wife, Denise, who was diag- tia, including Alzheimer’s, make had the resources to accelerate COVID-19 an additional chronic health condition— nosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012 and now up 48 percent of the population testing, immediately report cases to public such as diabetes, heart disease, or hyper- resides at an Atlanta-area assisted-living in nursing homes and 42 percent health officials, and deploy “strike teams” tension—which increases the likelihood of community. “COVID has absolutely had a of the population in long-term to virus hot spots, these communities complications from COVID-19. Dementia, downward effect on Denise,” Goerke says. care communities. For this could allow families to reunite sooner than meanwhile, makes it more challenging for While Goerke says Denise’s mood has group, isolation during the later. “If we had testing, then family mem- these individuals to protect themselves been improving lately, he suspects she pandemic is a serious bers could come visit,” says Beth Kallmyer, from the disease, because it renders them won’t be back to her old self until they’re health issue. MSW, vice president of care and support unable to discuss their needs or symptoms. reunited. He’s willing to have his tempera- for