An unexpectedly strong storm resulted in extensive flooding and damage to the Sacramento region on New Year’s Eve. Street medicine teams bring healthcare into homelessness encampments across the state. The psychology behind wellness to thrive in both mind and body.
NYE storm
The end of 2022 proved to be among the wettest on record across many spots in Northern California, and the New Year did not disappoint. From Sierra snowpack to dangerous winds toppling trees, massive power outages across the valley, and flooding shutting down Highway 99, the first days of January are shaping up to be powerful weather-wise with the potential for stronger atmospheric rivers in store this week. While many of us we’re counting down the clock to 2023, CapRadio was out covering the New Year storm and its aftermath. CapRadio’s Managing Editor of News Nick Miller joined Insight to provide the latest on the storm's impact and discuss the bigger picture.
Street medicine
Navigating healthcare is complicated. From establishing primary care to getting connected to specialists, understanding coverage, and knowing how much services can cost, the healthcare system is far from user-friendly. As California’s record unhoused population continues to grow so does a homelessness health crisis that strains emergency rooms as well as our moral compass. Because preventative care isn’t realistic for a vulnerable population that faces economic and logistical barriers to accessing a traditional brick-and-mortar doctor’s office or clinic. “Street medicine” has been around for decades, created in the early 1990s as a tool to directly offer medical care to those living on the streets. But this has long been a grassroots response to homelessness which means consistent funding can be a big challenge. However, in late 2022, California’s Medi-Cal agency, which serves low-income residents, announced a big change so that street medicine can fit into traditional healthcare. There currently are 25 street medicine teams across the state. CapRadio Healthcare Reporter Kate Wolffe, and Kristen Hwang who covers Health Policy for CalMatters, joined Insight to share how street medicine works from rural to urban cities.
Wellness psychology
Gym memberships, “Dry January,” cutting back on spending, perhaps achieving the ever elusive “work-life balance” and a wide array of intention lists to create a better year for mind and body. The tradition of resolutions is back because it can feel like we lose ourselves a bit by the end of the year. We get overwhelmed and caught up, which are the perfect ingredients for stress and make us feel depleted as we reflect on what we want to achieve for the new year. But at the core of annual goal setting is a desire to improve our health whether it’s physical, mental, financial, or spiritual, and “well-being” is certainly within our reach. Dr. Elissa Epel is Director of the Aging Metabolism and Emotions Center at UCSF and a New York Times bestselling author with a new book "The Stress Prescription". She joined Insight to explain the psychology behind wellness.
