It's Not a Burden: Humor & Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents

eading with humor and heart, IT’S NOT A BURDEN: THE HUMOR AND HEARTACHE OF RAISING ELDERLY PARENTS, currently in post-production,provides an intimate look at the multi-layered and endlessly-complex relationships between aging parents and the adult children who care for them. The Director shares her very personal journey caring for her long-divorced aging parents (her larger-than-life Mother battling dementia, her Father, a hoarder) while weaving in supporting stories from 20+ other families, showing the universal issues we face around the topic of caring for our aging parents and reminding us we’re not alone.

Packed with verité footage, dozens of intimate family discussions and unique interviews, the mission of IT’S NOT A BURDEN is to give voice to the one third of all Americans unexpectedly caring for our elders. While in production on this documentary we recognized the same questions, fears, and needs coming up again and again, regardless of race, gender, financial circumstance or geographical location. We also witnessed the desperate desire for connection, comradery, and information, as well as emotional, physical, and spiritual support while in the thick of this difficult phase of life.

Our goal is to shine a light on the ways in which families are navigating this journey, mixing laughter along with the challenges, struggles and solutions and show that we are not alone in this very universal experience of helping our parents as they grow older.