Directly or indirectly, caring for the elderly or dependents is part of our reality. Upon reaching a certain age or in specific health conditions, we all need the attention of another person. This reality, which for many is a way of life, has also been treated from the point of view of the movies about old people. They are inspiring works that broaden perspectives in caring for the elderly and open the door to a deeper understanding of the problems associated with these circumstances and their possible solutions.
Caring For the Elderly: A Job That Has Nothing Fictitious
Art is an excellent communication channel to publicize many of the problems that affect our society, raise awareness among the population, encourage reflection and provide effective solutions. A caregiver movie for dependent or elderly people presents a reality that is not always comfortable to deal with.
The advantage of these tv shows about old people regarding the care of dependent or elderly people is that they present these scenarios from a closer and easily understandable perspective, with amazing seniors stories that move us and convince us of the need for change. Through fiction it is possible to get to the depths of a reality that often goes unnoticed: the importance of assisting those in need and the great work that many families and professionals do to make this possible.
The Needs of an Increasingly Long-Lived Society
Why is it that lately in cinema and literature there is so much talk about the elderly and dependents? It is not about fads and passing trends but about a new sensibility. Art has always been closely connected to the problems of each generation and in recent decades a reality for which perhaps we were not fully prepared has been consolidated: the longevity of society.
The increase in life expectancy has meant the increase of an increasingly older population with specific needs. Movies about old people and books also want to contribute to a necessary change in the mentality of society to face these new demands from the perspective of understanding, respect and inclusion of the elderly in an environment that, in general, continues to show itself somewhat reticent when it comes to the abilities of the elderly or those with special needs.
Films about Caring For the Elderly or Dependents
In recent years, care for the elderly and/or dependents has been finding its place in the social cinema. Some of the recent movies for seniors that address these issues from an original point of view are:
The Mole Agent (Maite Alberdi 2021)
A story that shows the reality of the society in which we live, where many older people are victims of loneliness, abandoned to their fate in nursing homes without taking into account the suffering that this entails. Meanwhile, they wait for a greeting, a visit or a simple call from their relatives. All this becomes visible thanks to the mission of Agent Topo.
Minary (Lee Issac Chung, 2020)
Is there really a generation gap? This caregiver movie questions the barriers that are raised over time and the role that culture and tradition play in the concept of older people. All this with a typical grandmother in charge of giving visibility to all these issues.
Nomadland (Chloe Zhao, 2020)
Although old age should be a stage of enjoyment and well-being, the reality is very different for thousands of people around the world. Even in societies as modern and advanced as the United States, older people do not have the necessary resources and benefits to live this last stage with dignity. Many of these people are forced to become nomads and build a home wherever they find sustenance.
The Father (Florian Zeller, 2020)
Usually, problems such as dementia or Alzheimer's are treated from the perspective of family, friends or caregivers. In this caregiver movie, the viewer will learn about this reality from the point of view of the patient himself, a stubborn 80-year-old man whose health is progressively deteriorating without accepting the need for help.
Champions (Javier Fesser, 2018)
Also from humor and without sentimentalistic topics, the most complicated issues can be addressed. Fesser dares to talk about the role that people with intellectual disabilities occupy in society, ignoring what is politically correct to offer a much fresher, more realistic and hopeful vision of the great capacities of dependent people when they are offered the same opportunities as the rest.
