A House Divided: Caregiver Stress and Elder Abuse
1988
35 min
Coming soon
Through 4 moving portraits, this short documentary sheds light on the tragedy of caregiver stress and elder abuse. The abuse takes many forms, ranging from wilful neglect and financial exploitation to physical assault. The film portrays the emotional complexity of family relationships that can lead to abuse of the elderly, the anguish and isolation of its victims, and the need for community understanding and support.
Details
Through 4 moving portraits, this short documentary sheds light on the tragedy of caregiver stress and elder abuse. The abuse takes many forms, ranging from wilful neglect and financial exploitation to physical assault. The film portrays the emotional complexity of family relationships that can lead to abuse of the elderly, the anguish and isolation of its victims, and the need for community understanding and support.
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directorLyn Wright
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scriptLyn Wright
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narratorLyn Wright
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producerSilva Basmajian
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executive producerJohn Spotton
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cinematographyJohn WalkerDavid MeyersCharles Konowal
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soundRoss RedfernStephen LongstrethMichael Mirus
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editingJohn Kramer
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sound editingEva Jaworska
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re-recordingJack Heeren
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musicRandolph Peters
Education
Ages 16 to 18
Study Guides - Guide 1 | Guide 2
Family Studies/Home Economics - Aging/Death and Dying
Family Studies/Home Economics - Family Diversity and Challenges
Health/Personal Development - Healthy Relationships
Health/Personal Development - Mental Health/Stress/Suicide
Warning (if any): Partial nudity (posterior), descriptions of violence, photos of bruises on elderly woman after elder abuse
Brief “lesson launcher type” activity or a series of inquiry questions with a bit of context:
Documentary profiling the challenges faced by families when caring for elderly family members in the home setting, as well as the difficulty of coming to terms with institutional care for their loved ones.
How do different families take care of their elderly members based on cultural norms and expectations?
As we approach the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, how might our institutions better prepare in order to deal with the potential influx of residents?
