By Jeff Murphy,
March 22, 2021
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 Beginning March 24, and running through April, the University of
Central Missouri鈥檚 public television station will air and feature five unique programs designed to spark conversation and thought
about aging. KMOS-TV is proud to partner with other producers to showcase programs
aimed at debunking myths about aging, providing inspirational stories, and resources
for all of us as we age.
KMOS-TV has partnered with West-Central Independent Living Solutions (WILS), Services
for Independent Living (SIL) of Columbia, and Aging Best of Columbia to help provide
financial support for the broadcasting of these programs.
鈥淲e are excited to partner with amazing organizations such as WILS, SIL, and Aging
Best for this series. They provide valuable services to our communities including
assistive technologies and services for seniors. I am excited about this series as
it sheds light on what can sometimes be a difficult stage of life that affects us
all.鈥 said Scott Alvested, community engagement coordinator for KMOS-TV.
The films are part of the 鈥淔ocus on Aging鈥 series broadcast by KMOS-TV. Each program
seeks to educate, inspire, and engage audiences about a topic that is often misunderstood.
The following is a look at those programs:
鈥淔ast Forward: Look Into Your Future鈥 - Follow four millennials and their parents
as they travel through time to meet their future selves. Wearing an MIT-produced 鈥渁ging
empathy suit鈥 and working with professional makeup artists, they grapple with the
realizations, conversations and mindset required to age successfully.
鈥淏oomer鈥檚 Guide to Growing Older鈥 鈥 Baby boomers are facing ever-increasing challenges,
as they grapple with their own health issues while at the same time caring for their
aging parents and sometimes even their own spouses. Conversations with experts shed
light on how boomers can manage these varied responsibilities while still maintaining
their own physical and mental health, including resources and organizations designed
to help.
鈥淎ging Matters: Loneliness and Isolation鈥 鈥 Hosted by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
Kathy Mattea, this program explores the characteristics and health implications of
social isolation and loneliness on the elderly. The documentary features the stories
of older adults who have experienced feeling detached from the wider community due
to factors like the loss of a spouse, the stresses of caregiving, illness or loss
of mobility. Finally, the program looks at the innovative ways that social ties and
community can be created to prevent social withdrawal.
鈥淩evolutionizing Dementia Care鈥 鈥 Explore how people living with dementia can still
enjoy full and meaningful lives based on their abilities, not their limitations. In
the documentary, eight residential homes are visited, from Massachusetts to California,
specializing in dementia and Alzheimer鈥檚 care. Interviews with residents, family and
staff reveal the various ways models of person-centered care, and its impact on both
the recipients and providers of those services. Experts and educators in the dementia
care field also discuss the changing landscape of diagnosis and care, and the benefits
of these new models. From equine and horticulture therapies, to city-wide dementia-friendly
education programs for area businesses, this documentary captures the evolving ways
ability-focused programs can enrich the lives of those living with this diagnosis.
鈥淲hen My Time Comes鈥 鈥 Spurred on by the death of her husband, Peabody-award-winning
journalist Diane Rehm crosses the country to take an in-depth look at medical aid
in dying. She speaks to people on all sides of the issue, uncovering the pros and
cons, the facts and the misinformation surrounding this controversial practice that
is now legal in nine states and the District of Columbia. The result is both moving
and informative 鈥 an eye-opening documentary that is sure to provoke strong reactions
and thoughtful conversations among viewers of all ages and backgrounds.