On April 2nd, PBS aired a 2 hour special called Caring for Your Parents.  This documentary featured 5 American families and the impact caregiving has had on themselves and their family dynamics.  The 90 minute documentary was followed by a 30 minute roundtable discussion of aging professionals.
I thought the documentary was very interesting and insightful.  It showed the different types of situations that each family was facing, however the challenges and joys of caregiving for each individual had lots of similarities.  It is so important for caregivers to have a good support system and to take time for themselves.  The caregivers also discussed the emotional, mental, physical, and financial strains they face with caregiving.
Anyone who is a caregiver could benefit from this special feature.  PBS is offering the opportunity for people to watch the program online for free.  Log-on to       PBS: Caring for Your Parents to watch the complete program.  After watching the program, come back and post your comments on my blog for further discussion.