Why I’m Watching the PBS Special on Caregiving April 2

Posted on 28. Mar, 2008 by Karen in Caregiving

The issue of how we care for our aging parents will be profiled in a PBS special next Wednesday, April 2nd.  The two hour program, which airs on your local PBS station at 9pm EST, includes a 90 minute documentary on the caregiving experience of 5 families followed by a 30 minute panel discussion. 

I plan to watch this program because my siblings and I have felt so lost sometimes as we cared first for my elderly father at home before he died and then for my mother who is now in an assisted living for dementia patients.  For a family of fairly well educated individuals, it was amazing how little we knew or still know about caregiving in aging.  Every step of the way has been a struggle–from learning how to engage a caregiver, how to create a supportive environment to things like how to change my dad’s diaper with dignity or gently remind mom for the 25th time that she didn’t bring her purse. 

So that’s why I’m watching, why should you?  Well, our generation is the first to be faced with the growing financial and emotional impact of caregiving for a large aging population.  With increased life spans and 78 million Baby Boomers in the pipeline, caregiving is destined, for most of us, to become a part of of our daily lives.  Whether you’re currently a caregiver or not, the more info the better.

Not convinced?  Well then let’s make it personal.  Just consider that what we learn from the caregiving of our parents is the foundation of how caregiving will be provided to us in our later years.  

That alone might be the best reason to tune in.

Bookmark and Share
Share
DiggIt
Technorati
Del.icio.us

Related posts:

  1. Caregiving — The Impact on Midlife Women Yes I’m back on the issue of caregiving.  Not only...
  2. The Sobering Issue of Caregiving Yesterday I attended the Boomer Business Summit in Washington DC. ...
  3. More Ranting About Caregiving OK.  OK.  I know it seems like I’m on a...
  4. What Happens When Something Happens to a Caregiver? My coaching colleague, Mary provides homecare for her elderly mother who...
  5. A Daughter’s Midlife Transition from News Anchor to Caregiver Two weeks I had the great opportunity to talk...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Leave a Reply