Actors Share Personal Caregiving Stories

KCET, the nation’s largest independent public television station serving Southern and Central California, announced a new original documentary series on caregiving hosted by Holly Robinson Peete called Your Turn to Care, airing on March 7 at 8 p.m. and March 14 at 8 p.m.

The series explores a challenge thatAmerica’s growing generation of baby boomers were never prepared for: taking care of ailing or aging loved ones.  Four half-hour episodes focus on different families who find themselves at pivotal stages along the caregiving path, offering viewers solutions and hope through inspiring stories and a multitude of resources.

Host Holly Robinson Peete, an acclaimed actress and award-winning author, takes viewers on journeys into this often heart-wrenching passage of life, exploring the overwhelming challenges faced by caregivers of every ilk. She also shares her own experiences of caring for her father who had Parkinson’s disease.

The documentaries also feature personal stories of caregiving from actors Hector Elizondo (Last Man Standing), Monica Potter (Parenthood), Robert David Hall (CSI Crime Scene Investigation), and Patricia Richardson (Home Improvement).

In addition, end-of-life and caregiving experts from across the community will help contextualize these complex issues for viewers.They include:

Gail Sheehy, best-selling author of 16 books on aging and key passages of adulthood, including Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence.

Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times columnist.

Dr. Gary Small, a renowned expert at UCLA who studies longevity, aging, Alzheimer’s prevention and memory, and best-selling author of seven books, including The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program.

Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil, director of the Center for Policy Research on Aging at UCLA, and author of more than 80 articles and six books, including The New Aging: Politics and Change in America.

Viewers can also access the show’s companion web site (www.yourturntocare.org) for extended interviews and back stories, helpful links and resources, as well as tips from guest experts.