Heidi de Marco

Heidi de Marco was a reporter and producer for KFF Health News until March 2023.

@HeidideMarco

‘More Than Physical Health’: Gym Helps 91-Year-Old Battle Isolation

For Art Ballard, the local gym was like his second home. The 91-year-old former jeweler relied on his near-daily workouts to stay healthy and for social interaction. But when California instituted its stay-at-home order, Ballard’s physical health suffered. So did his mental health.

COVID-19 Overwhelms Border ICUs

Some California hospitals near the Mexican border have received so many COVID-19 patients the past few weeks that they have had to divert some to other facilities. Hospital officials say most of the infected patients are U.S. citizens or legal residents who live in, or recently traveled to, Mexico and came to the U.S. for care.

Beyond The Glam: Feeding The Coachella Valley’s Most Vulnerable Residents

Poverty is real in the Coachella Valley, a region known for its glitzy resorts and music festival. During the COVID crisis, the California National Guard and California Conservation Corps are helping an area food bank distribute food to older residents and those with disabilities.

‘Essential’ Or Not, These Workers Report For Duty

In Los Angeles County and beyond, people continue to toil through the coronavirus pandemic, often in positions that put them in constant contact with the public. Many are low-wage workers who can’t afford to stop working.

“Esenciales” o no, estos trabajadores siguen en sus puestos

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — Pauline Lawrence tiene 63 años, una edad que la pone en mayor riesgo si contrae el nuevo coronavirus. Sin embargo, tres días a la semana, pasa 16 horas con alguien que corre un riesgo aún mayor: un hombre de 97 años que depende de ella y de otros dos ayudantes de […]

Photo Essay: LA Under Lockdown

Californians are under orders to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus — and the result is that some of Southern California’s best-known spots are shuttered or deserted, from Santa Monica Pier to Olvera Street.