Circle of Love

WHYY presents an intimate look at the lives of local caregivers.

(Edited by Mary Eileen O'Connor)

Millions of Americans from all walks of life are caregivers for elderly, chronically ill, or physically or mentally disabled family members or friends. Often, family caregivers are overwhelmed by their situation -- they feel a sense of isolation and despair and are uncertain about where to turn for help.

WHYY produced Circle of Love, a three-part series featuring first-person accounts of the daily struggles and joys of family caregiving. WHYY provided digital cameras to four Delaware Valley families, enabling them to capture their individual stories on tape.

These intimate video diaries, combined with scenes taped by WHYY, provide a personal exploration into the often-overlooked experiences of family caregivers and their loved ones as they deal with such health issues as autism, Alzheimer's disease and depression.

Circle of Love premiered January, 2004, on TV12. Each story is available on VHS at the WHYY Shop.

Living With Alzheimer's

Delaware residents Florence Collins, whose husband Russell suffers from Alzheimer's-related dementia, and Carol Francis, whose husband Alfred has Alzheimer's disease, share the emotional struggles they face as family caregivers.

Children With Special Needs

Dan and Carolyn Curran (pictured, left) of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, who are the parents of four young children -- three of whom have disabilities, including autism and Down syndrome -- offer insight into the unique challenges faced by parents of children with special needs.

Caring For An Aging Parent

Ana Mulero, a Latina woman from Philadelphia, chronicles her experiences as a caregiver for her mother, who is clinically depressed and doesn't speak English.

Programs to Remember

Five million Americans currently live with Alzheimer's disease, and many more receive the dreaded diagnosis each day. WHYY presents two programs that examine this national crisis in depth:

Voices in the Family

On a special edition on January 12, 2004 of the weekly program, host Dr. Dan Gottlieb previews the upcoming national television program The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's and discusses the latest research on the causes, signs and treatment. He also explores how families are affected by Alzheimer's and explains what they can do to cope with the disease.
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The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's

This groundbreaking program introduces families whose lives have been changed by Alzheimer's, offering insight into their daily challenges. Also profiled are several scientists who are part of the worldwide effort to eradicate the disease.