There’s a caregiving crisis in America, and taking care of our parents is just one part of the struggle.
It’s caring for adults with a disability. It’s grandparents raising kids again, or parents as primary caregivers for a medically complex child. Then there are friends caring for friends like they’re family. Today is dedicated to highlighting resources to help caregivers of all kinds – both paid and unpaid. And, we’re taking your calls. Call 615-760-2000 to ask the experts – or join us live streaming on YouTube at noon and pop your question into chat!
Plus, we hear about actor Bradley Cooper’s new PBS documentary about caregiving in America, which probably hits home because most of us will spend part of our life playing the role he played for his father. As first lady Rosalynn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”
This episode was produced by LaTonya Turner and Mary Mancini.
Guests
- Chris Durrance, director and senior producer of PBS documentary, Caregiving
- LaTonya Turner, editor and afternoon host, WPLN News
- Sandy Ewing, caregiver, medically complex child
- Aimee Luchterhand, caregiver, child with special needs
- Tina Lemon, caregiver, grandparent raising grandchildren
- Dr. Feylyn Lewis, Asst. Dean Student Affairs, VU School of Nursing; National Alliance for Caregiving researcher
- Dr. Megan Schwalm, President & CEO, Tennessee Caregiver Coalition
Further reading, listening and watching
- Who Cares? Family caregivers share stories and struggles in our monthly series (Next Age series, This is Nashville)
- Hospice care: learning what you need to know when the time comes in (Next Age series, This is Nashville)
- Caregiving: A documentary revealing America’s caregiving crisis through intimate stories and expert insight (PBS)
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM