KMOS-TV to Feature Five Unique Programs to Spark Conversation About Aging

WARRENSBURG, MO –  Beginning March 24, and running through April, the University of Central Missouri’s public television station KMOS-TV 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.

 

“We 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.” said Scott Alvested, community engagement coordinator for KMOS-TV.

 

The films are part of the “Focus on Aging” 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:

 

“Fast Forward: Look Into Your Future” - Follow four millennials and their parents as they travel through time to meet their future selves. Wearing an MIT-produced “aging empathy suit” and working with professional makeup artists, they grapple with the realizations, conversations and mindset required to age successfully. 

 

“Boomer’s Guide to Growing Older” — 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. 

 

“Aging Matters: Loneliness and Isolation” — 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.

 

“Revolutionizing Dementia Care” —  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’s 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.

 

“When My Time Comes” — 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 – an eye-opening documentary that is sure to provoke strong reactions and thoughtful conversations among viewers of all ages and backgrounds.