"The Caregivers" Series & Naomi Judd on CBS News

The Gerontological Society of America circulated an email message announcing that the CBS network will broadcast a three-part series on television entitled "The Caregivers", which will address the struggles of helping aging parents.

Segments will be broadcast during CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, on February 19 (Mon), 20 (Tue), & 21 (Wed), 2007, sometime after 6:30 EST pm each evening.

"The Caregivers" . . . looks at issues confronting the so-called sandwich generation as they struggle to help their aging parents. The series will look not only at some of the problems – from high costs to sibling conflict over care – but check out some innovative solutions as well.

This will air Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (February 19th, 20th, and 21st) * * * at 6:30 PM ET on CBS. Please check the CBS website on Monday for more information and links related to this subject, as well as the pieces themselves for those who can’t tune in.

CBS News has broadcast various segments over the past years about senior-related topics:

• "Caring For Aging Parents" -- Authors Discuss How To Broach The Topic, Share The Burden (04/25/05).
• Synopsis: "Millions of Americans learned to care for their aging parents through trial and error, often without much-needed support from relatives and friends. Hugh Delehanty and Elinor Ginzler offer plenty of advice for people in this growing situation in the new book, "Caring For Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide." Delehanty says it not just a how-to-do book, but also a "how-to-think" book about care-giving."

• "Elderly Struggle With Debt" -- Growing Number Of Seniors In Bankruptcy Court (07/22/04).
• Synopsis: "Did you know credit card debt among seniors age 65 and over has increased 89 percent to $4,041 between 1992 and 2001. According to several published reports, ordinary older Americans are having trouble making ends meet. The Early Show financial adviser Ray Martin offers suggestions on how deal with debt issues and how to avoid them before it is too late."

• "Dying On Life Support: Is It Fair?" -- Should Doctors Prolong Lives Artificially When The End Is Near? (06/23/04).
• Synopsis: "Because people are living longer and doctors can prolong lives artificially when the end is near, hospital beds are filling up with elderly patients with no hope of recovery and no choice to avoid painful treatment. It is becoming such a serious national problem that physicians at one of the biggest and best hospitals in America – Bellevue Hospital in New York City - have decided to speak out."

• "Burdened By Retirees And Kids" -- Tips For Adult Children To Protect Themselves From Parents In Financial Holes (07/19/03).
• Synopsis: "There's no question that reduced interest rates and retirement funds lost to the bear market have hurt seniors. But these developments are also hitting the pocketbook of another group — the children of retirees. More adult children are finding themselves helping their parents make ends meet. Financial advisor Ray Martin gave some tips for adult children on The Saturday Early Show on how to help their parents without hurting their own financial future."

But, according to another CBS News broadcast recently aired, the "boomer" generation should think positively about the challenges of aging. See: "Naomi Judd Says "Age Gratefully" (Interview, 01/24/07). "Country singer Naomi Judd's book, "Naomi's Guide To Aging Gratefully: Facts, Myths, And Good News For Boomers," encourages baby boomers to embrace aging and appreciate themselves."

Experts predict that the baby boomers will change what it means to be old. Country legend Naomi Judd is already doing her part with her book, "Naomi's Guide To Aging Gratefully: Facts, Myths, And Good News For Boomers."

Judd, a cancer survivor and six-time Grammy winner, said her experiences have made her realize the importance of gratitude.

"It's that old thing about when you can't control the way things are, you know, we can't control our circumstances. But the good news is we get to control our reaction to our circumstances," she told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "Change is inevitable, aging is inevitable."

Judd said her book is full of cutting edge research that tells people how to live 15 years longer and how to change your attitude about growing older. She said people can live 7 1/2 years longer simply by adjusting their attitude.

According to information posted by the book's publisher, Simon & Schulster:

"Freedom is the focus, and there's no better time than now to free yourself from untrue and outdated ideas about your own potential. Naomi is full of fresh ideas to help readers look at their futures in a whole new way. The aging process, as Naomi shows, is an opportunity for new experiences, original routines, and more contentment than ever before."

So, a "boomer", who is also a "caregiver" to another, should adopt a positive view of aging, and then search for innovative solutions to improve the situation.