Care for the Caregiver
Author Fred Plotkin brings his background in opera, food, and all things Italian to providing emotional, intellectual, and physical support for four close family members over several decades. In this podcast, he shares the joys and challenges of respectful caregiving.
[00:00:01] Stephen Calabria: From the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, this is Road to Resilience, a podcast about facing adversity. I'm your host, Stephen Calabria, Mount Sinai's Director of Podcasting.
[00:00:13] On today's episode, we welcome Fred Plotkin, a lifelong professional in arts and letters.
[00:00:18] Mr. Plotkin has worked in opera since 1972, having worked at La Scala in Milan and as performance manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and is the author of the best selling textbook on the subject, Opera 101.
[00:00:32] He is the author of ten books, mostly about Italian cuisine. His most recent book, co authored with travel writer Rick Steves, is called Italy for Food Lovers.
[00:00:42] Since the 1990s, Mr. Plotkin has also been a caregiver for four aging family members, three of whom lived to over 100 years old.
[00:00:50] Mr. Plotkin's journey of love and resilience through decades of caring for family members who could not care for themselves is a testament to perseverance in the face of difficult, often worsening conditions. We're honored to have Mr. Fred Plotkin on the show. Thank you.
[00:01:05] Mr. Fred Plotkin, welcome to Road to Resilience, sir.
[00:01:08] Fred Plotkin: Thank you very much.
[00:01:09] Stephen Calabria: Could you start off by giving us a little bit of your background?
[00:01:12] Fred Plotkin: Well, we are recording in Mount Sinai Hospital, where I happened to be born a number of years ago in 1956. I am a Manhattanite, lived here most of my life.
[00:01:23] I'm well known for my work as a lot of things, but especially regarding Italy. And so I've spent a lot of my life in Italy because of my current caregiving role. I've not been there for more than four years and it's something I miss terribly.