As the baby boomer population ages, many adult children are grappling with an unprecedented social, cultural, economic and personal revolution as they transition into the primary caregiver role for their aging parents. When these boomers fully age out, the revolution of this role-reversed phenomenon will only deepen, widen, and grow more pronounced. Even blessed with a long-healthy set of grandparents, I’ve seen firsthand the stressful effects on siblings of having to manage or assist in health care affairs from afar.

Caring for Your Parents is a solidly made, touchy-feely documentary that draws much-needed attention to this universal reality, underscoring both today’s struggle to keep parents at home and manage tensions between siblings, some of whom may live much closer to the needy parties in question. The complexity of shifting caregiver roles is given this intimate look through prima facie interviews with five American families. It’s a difficult subject to approach, but one that certainly merits more discussion. In the end, this two-hour documentary contends that successful caregiving requires only one primary ingredient — love.

Housed in a regular plastic Amaray case, and presented in 16×9 anamorphic widescreen, as a supplemental inclusion the DVD features a 30-minute panel discussion in which filmmaker Michael Kirk sits down with caregiving experts High Delehanty and Elinor Ginzler, co-authors of the book Caring for Your Parents: The Complete Family Guide. There’s also access to the movie’s companion web site, which includes downloadable resources and other helpful information, like a printable booklet (no need to try to get your folks to navigate the web!) to help adult children begin a helpful and comfortable dialogue with their elderly parents about making smart choices regarding their living decisions and long-term health care. B (Movie) B (Disc)