New PBS Documentary Film Release and Screenings: Aging in America - Survive or Thrive
Aging in America: Survive or Thrive, a one-hour documentary narrated by Martin Sheen that celebrates the promise of increased longevity while addressing crucial and unprecedented public policy challenges, premiered on PBS on May 1.
The film uses the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Why Survive: Being Old in America by Dr. Robert N. Butler, the first director of the National Institute on Aging, as a guide. It features older adults and family caregivers from across the country as they navigate the complexities of aging and highlights insights from health care experts, policymakers and advocates who discuss how to create a health care and long-term care system that works for all older adults. Key achievements in aging policy made throughout the 20th century are highlighted and the film asks: what work remains to help older adults living in America not just survive, but thrive?
Check the film schedule for your local PBS airing times or stream the film on PBS. The film is also available on Amazon and on Apple TV.
Resources that relate to programs and issues in the film:
- Age-Friendly Care (JAHF webpage)
- Older adults and family caregivers can learn more about what age-friendly care is and how they can ask for it from their health care providers. The page is also available in Spanish.
- My Health Checklist (Institute for Healthcare Improvement guide)
- A guide for older adults and caregivers to talk to their health care providers about the essential elements of age-friendly care known as the 4Ms. The guide is also available in Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.
- PACEFinder (National PACE Association map)
- Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) coordinate and provide all needed preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services so older adults can continue living in the community rather than in a nursing home. Use the PACEFinder to find a PACE program in your neighborhood. The page is also available in Spanish.
- Best Programs for Caregiving (Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and Family Caregiver Alliance online database)
- Online directory of proven programs that support family caregivers of people living with dementia. This first-of-its-kind directory for both professional organizations and family caregivers details nearly 50 top-rated dementia support programs, including local availability, program outcomes and enrollment information.
- Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition
- Bringing diverse leaders, stakeholders and experts together to advance practical solutions to long-standing nursing home quality issues. The Coalition has developed guides for improving nursing homes, holds monthly Coalition conversations and publishes resources.
- Reframing Aging (Gerontological Society of America's National Center to Reframe Aging website)
- Countering ageism by changing how we talk about aging. The National Center to Reframe Aging is dedicated to ending ageism by advancing an equitable and complete story about aging in America and offers a library of resources and training.
- Center for Medicare Advocacy, Medicare Rights Center and Justice in Aging
- Several advocacy organizations work on behalf of older adults to ensure access to healthcare and economic security.
- AARP (Family Caregiving resources)
- Tips and support for family caregiving, from providing personal care, medical management and financial guidance to finding a healthy work-life balance.
About the film:
- Aging in America: Survive or Thrive one-hour documentary is narrated by Martin Sheen and examines the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly aging population. Using Dr. Robert Butler’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Why Survive? Being Old in America as a guide, the film explores critical topics such as ageism, healthcare, economic insecurity and Alzheimer’s disease. Featuring renowned experts and personal stories, the documentary celebrates the promise of increased longevity while addressing crucial and unprecedented public policy challenges.
- Funding for the film was provided by The John A. Hartford Foundation, with additional support from the American Society on Aging, the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York and The SCAN Foundation.
Discussion guides for the film are available for the public and for professionals in the aging field.
JAHF held a viewing of scenes from the documentary and a discussion about aging in the United States and policy opportunities in Washington, D.C. on April 10.
Go to the film website.
Go to the film streaming and broadcast schedule.
Go to the PBS film site.
Go to the Amazon film page.
Go to the Apple film page.
Go to the public film discussion guide.
Go to the professionals in aging film discussion guide.
Read PBS SoCal press release, Actor Martin Sheen Narrates New Special On Older Adults' Health and Longevity In AGING IN AMERICA: SURVIVE OR THRIVE.
Learn more about JAHF's co-support for the film.
