“Caring for Your Parents” on PBS – Don’t Miss It

Carol Bradley Bursack is Answering questions Caregiver Author, blogger and eldercare columnist For over twenty years author, columnist and speaker Carol Bradley... Send Message Subscribe: Carol Bradley Bursack

Monday, March 10, 2008
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On Wednesday April 2, at 8 p.m. CT (9 p.m.ET), the PBS station in your area will premiere "Caring for Your Parents," a 90-minute documentary featuring five families and their caregiving experiences. These caregiving stories underscore the struggles of today's families to keep their pare...

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pbs
N.C.
Monday, March 10, 2008 at 05:09 PM

Thanks! I will pay attention to that although we will be in Evanston at that time to see my FIL. One time I watched a program. It is about some old people refuse to be helped and live alone. It is a sad program. Hope this one is more positive.
Nina

re: pbs
Carol Bradley Bursack
Monday, March 10, 2008 at 05:29 PM
One thing about PBS is that they re-run programs, and I think you'll also be able to see it on your computer, so if you miss it, you'll catch it later. It should be well done. I don't even know that I'll see it the first run, as I have something on that night. I'll probably see it on the computer.

CARING FOR YOUR PARENT
KATHY CLARK
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 07:11 PM
WHEN WE ARE LITTLE AND NEED OUR PARENTS TO TAKE CARE OF US WE NEVER THINK THAT ONE DAY THAT WE WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THEM. I TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER THAT HAS ALZHEIMER'S AND CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HER SELF AT HOME BY HERSELF FOR ANY LENGHT OF TIME EXCEPT WHILE MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF IS AT WORK. WE LEAVE AT 1:00PM AND MY STEP-SON GETS HOME AT 6:30PM. I ALSO TAKE MY LUNCH BREAK TO TAKE HER SOMETHING TO EAT AND TO CHECK ON HER DURING THAT TIME BEFORE HE GETS HOME. I AM AN LVN AND I KNOW WHAT ALL THE STAGES ARE AND WHAT IS TO COME BECAUSE I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME THING. I HAVE WORKED IN NURSING HOMES FOR YEARS AND SEE WHAT KIND OF CARE THAT IS AND ISN'T GIVEN. I AM NOT SAYING ALL NURSING HOMES ARE BAD BUT IN ALOT OF THEM THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HELP AND THE HELP THEY HAVE ARE WORKING SO MUCH OVERTIME TO MAKE ENDS MEET THAT THEY ARE TIRED AND SHOULD NOT BE WORKING THAT MUCH. MY MOTHER TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY AS I WAS BATHING HER THAT SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD EVER HAVE TO HAVE ME, HER DAUGHTER BATH HER LIKE SO MANY TIMES AS A CHILD SHE BATHED ME. SOME PEOPLE DON'T STOP TO THING OF ALL OF THIS AS THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR LOVED ONE IN THE NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS, THAT TO THEM IT IS A LOSE OF NOT ONLY THEIR MINDS AND MEMORIES BUT OF THEIR DIGNATY. AND WE NEED TO STOP AND THINK THAT BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE HAVE THEM FOR THE LENGHT OF TIME WE DO. IT'S VERY PAINFUL TO SEE OUR PARENTS IN THIS CONDITION. AND WE GET FRUSTRATED ALOT OF THE TIMES. BUT YOU NEED TO STOP AND THINK THAT IF IT WAS NOT FOR THEM THEN WE WOULD NOT BE HERE. KATHY FROM TEXAS

re: CARING FOR YOUR PARENT
Carol Bradley Bursack
Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 08:10 AM

Kathy, your mom is very fortunate to have a loving - and trained! - daughter to care for her. It's hard to work full time and do what you are doing. Your mom is aware that you are doing for her what she did for you. You are aware her need to keep her dignity. What a blessing for you both.
Carol

Nursing home
N.C.
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 08:22 PM

Kathy, I know what you are saying. Home care is better than nursing home unless the patient gets too sick to be cared for at home. It is more personal at home. I believe in general people like to stay in their home until they cannot take care of themselves. It is nice that you live wth your Mom. It is hard work!
Nina