Iowa PBS explores the realities of caregiving

There are currently more than 73,000 unpaid caregivers in Iowa, caring for loved ones who are unable to care for themselves due to age, disability or illness. In an hour-long special from Iowa Life, we’ll explore the challenges and triumphs of giving and receiving care in Iowa through three moving personal stories and discuss many of the realities faced by caregivers.

Iowa Life: Caregiving premieres on statewide Iowa PBS on Tuesday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m. and will be rebroadcast on Sunday, June 29 at 3 p.m. This program will also be available to stream on iowapbs.org and on the PBS app.

To extend the conversation, join Iowa PBS for an important conversation about the challenges and compassion involved with caregiving on June 12 at 6:30 p.m. Held in person at the Iowa PBS Maytag Studios or online via Zoom, this discussion is open to caregivers of all kinds. Whether you're a family member, friend or professional caregiver supporting an aging parent, a person with disabilities or a loved one with chronic illness, you are invited to join the conversation.

Attendees will preview clips from local and national programs on the topic, including Iowa Life: Caregiving from Iowa PBS and a documentary produced by Bradley Cooper titled Caregiving. A community conversation with Charity Nebbe, host of Iowa Life will follow. Panelists will include Michael Wagler, state director with AARP Iowa; Kathy Good, senior director with The Chris and Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia of Mercy; and Jennifer Jones, MHS-PH, program coordinator of the Optimal Aging Initiative at the Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence at the University of Iowa College of Nursing.

Attendees are welcome to submit questions for the discussion when registering online. Light refreshments will also be served.

For more information and to register for free, visit iowapbs.org/events.