curiousKC | Aging and Long-Term Care in Kansas City

In September, Kansas City PBS and Flatland will explore the challenges facing families and their aging members.

“Age-Old Questions” reporting will provide a comprehensive look into many of the questions and concerns related to retirement, finances, caregiving, and the at-home care versus assisted living/nursing home debate, among other issues facing both the aging population and their loved ones.

The month-long multimedia effort is centered around a new documentary, “How Should We Care?” by filmmaker Michael Price.

Airing on Kansas City PBS Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., the film will offer an in-depth look at the nursing home and long-term care industry in the region as it faces unprecedented stresses following the COVID-19 global pandemic.

According to ProPublica’s Nursing Home Inspect report, “infection-related deficiencies” were found in 459 of Missouri’s 510 homes. “Serious deficiencies” were identified in 156 registered homes as of July 2023.

The documentary will be immediately followed by “The State of Aging in Kansas City,” a televised town hall in collaboration with Kansas City Public Library and hosted by “Week in Review” host Nick Haines.

Register to attend the Sept. 5 town hall at the Kansas City Library’s Plaza Branch here.

In its 2021 report to Congress, the RAISE Family Caregivers Act reported that replacing family caregiving support of older adults and people with disabilities with paid services would cost $470 billion each year.

September’s episode of “Flatland in Focus” will open its third season with an “Age-Old Questions” episode, airing Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. on Kansas City PBS and on YouTube, addressing the issue locally.

Hosted by D. Rashaan Gilmore, “Flatland in Focus: Navigating Aging in Place,” will feature lead reporting by Mary Sanchez and a roundtable discussion with community members who dedicate their time and efforts to caring for elderly relatives, highlighting the systems and resources in place to support those aging in place.

Keep an eye on FlatlandKC.org and our YouTube channel throughout the month for additional “Age-Old Questions” coverage, including content related to Alzheimer’s and dementia care, how area seniors are staying active and information on estate planning and Social Security from the Financial Planning Association of Kansas City.

To better serve our audience and provide answers on this topic, we would like to hear from you!

You can help shape our reporting by submitting your story or asking aging-related questions that may be addressed in the upcoming “The State of Aging in Kansas City” town hall or “Navigating Aging in Place” episode of Flatland in Focus in the form below.

“Age-Old Questions” reporting is made possible through the generous support of the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank, Trustee and Husch Blackwell.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.