Coping with the realities of aging can be difficult for individuals, while coping with an aging population can be difficult for society as a whole. Both subjects are treated in this solid, thought-provoking, and frequently poignant documentary by filmmaker Michael Neel. The film offers glimpses into the lives of two Massachusetts couples—a man battling colon cancer and his supportive wife, and a vigorous 74-year-old waitress and her husband—as well as two elderly sisters, and a Boston doctor who treats residents in a group home for elders (many of whom have mental disabilities and were previously living on the streets). The interview excerpts with the seniors range from exuberant expressions of the enjoyment some find in their “golden years” to the sad recognition of impending death. And the fly-on-the-wall footage of the physician attending his patients can be heartbreaking: one man wants to leave the facility, while another has elected to end treatment. Comments from the CEO of an organization called HEARTH (Helping Elders at Risk Through Homes), plus other caregivers, add to this portrait, which cites statistics warning that an increasingly aging population will inevitably place enormous strains on the ability of society and government to provide the services required by seniors. Growing Old raises issues that many—citizens and politicians alike—are often reluctant to face, but also ones that are becoming too pressing to ignore. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Growing Old
(2006) 74 min. DVD or VHS: $149.95. Journeyman Pictures (dist. by Films Media Group). PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-4213-7945-6 (dvd), 978-1-4213-7944-9 (vhs). Volume 23, Issue 3
Growing Old
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