Caregiving, Premiering June 24 at 9pm on CPTV

CPTV: June 24 at 9pm, June 25 at 3:30pm, June 29 at 1pm, June 30 at 8pm
Spirit: June 25 at 8pm, June 26 at 4pm, and June 27 at 9:30pm

Streaming
Stream CPTV live on ctpublic.org, the CT Public mobile app, and the OTT app Connecticut Public + (Roku, Apple, Amazon)

Caregiving Screening and Panel Discussion
June 23 at Real Art Ways, Hartford. Registration required. More event details coming soon!

From Executive Producer Bradley Cooper, the documentary follows a group of both paid and unpaid caregivers as they weather the ups and downs of this deeply challenging and immensely meaningful work. Intertwining intimate personal stories with the untold history of caregiving, and featuring caregivers from across the country, as well as interviews with renowned scholars and practitioners in the field, CAREGIVING reveals both the state and the stakes of care in America.

Malcoma Brown-Ekeogu devotes herself to her husband’s care in the final stages of his illness, even when she feels alone in the journey. As the home health aide to Sherril Johnson, who has multiple sclerosis, Zulma Torres provides care with the same kindness that she would for a family member. Matt Cauli juggles care for his young son with care for his wife, Kanlaya, in the wake of a health crisis — keeping the family together against the odds. Kim and Guillaume Olloz raise a disabled daughter in a world not built for people with disabilities — in a home filled with love and care. Tracy Eacret experiences the laughter and the tears of a bittersweet season with her father as his end-of-life caregiver. And the Gutierrez family contends with a chronic illness that makes a caregiver out of a tender-hearted 14-year-old boy.

These stories unfold alongside an examination of the creation and evolution of the care system and the social dynamics that shape our approach to caregiving today. The documentary examines how caregiving in the U.S. has been historically unnoticed and inadequately supported, while economic crises and war have impacted the care needs of the country and the caregiving industry. CAREGIVING traces the roots of America’s social safety net to Frances Perkins, who, as U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945, led the creation of the Social Security Act in response to the Great Depression. The documentary also explores the evolution of social norms regarding caregiving through the decades. CAREGIVING further examines how the need to care for veterans intensified caregiving demands as those returning with physical and psychological injuries were often unable to rejoin the workforce, exposing critical gaps in support systems and driving reforms to better address long-term care needs.

Providing historical context, critical perspective and hope, experts featured in the documentary include Alison Gopnik, PhD, Professor, UC Berkeley; Paul Irving, Senior Advisor, Future of Aging, Milken Institute; Premilla Nadasen, PhD, Professor, Barnard College; Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director, Caring Across Generations; and Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Narrated by Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Orange is the New Black) and directed by Chris Durrance.

The Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit, law organization that works to advance access to comprehensive Medicare coverage, health equity, and quality health care for older adults and people with disabilities. Founded in 1986, CMA’s work includes legal assistance, advocacy, education, analysis, policy initiatives, and litigation of importance to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, with an emphasis on the needs of people with longer-term and chronic conditions. CMA provides free Medicare assistance to CT residents.

CT Paid Leave provides income replacement benefits for covered workers when they need to take time off for qualifying family or health reasons, like recovering from a serious health condition, caring for a family member, or bonding with a new child.

The Elder Law Center of CT is a family-owned, private law firm with offices in central and southeastern Connecticut. They offer asset-preservation strategies when considering care needs at home or in a nursing home and other services such as will contests, probate, and estate matters.

Farmington Station and Ridgefield Station offers both Assisted Living and a Compass Memory Support Neighborhood, a program that actually treats the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and potentially slows the progression. Residents enjoy enriching everyday experiences aimed at promoting independence, inspiring curiosity and encouraging connection with others. Learn more at CompassSLR.com/CT.

For over 130 years, Oak Hill has empowered individuals with disabilities through residential, education, and enrichment programs across Connecticut. Oak Hill believes that every person can thrive in their community and works in partnership with the individuals they serve to achieve the highest degree of independence, integration, and satisfaction. Learn more about their network of support at: www.oakhillct.org.

My Place CT connects you to several Connecticut state agencies and materials that support older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers.
• Aging and Disability Services
• Department of Social Services
• Health and Human Services
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

AARP: Family Caregiver Resources for Connecticut

United Way: 211 of Connecticut

My Place CT: National Family Caregiver Support Program

Family Caregiver Alliance