TPT's The Forgetting: Outreach

Organization/Station Joins National PBS Campaign to Address Growing Alzheimer’s Epidemic In Conjunction with an Evening of Landmark

Programming on January 21

Organization/Station will (describe local outreach)

Organization/Station is joining in a national PBS campaign that will raise public awareness of the looming Alzheimer’s health crisis — offering insight, context, help and hope. Local broadcast and/or outreach activity and/or online resources will support national PBS programming airing on January 21 to give the people of the community or name of city/state/region a deeper understanding of this mysterious disease, the science behind it and the experience of those who suffer from its tragic effects.

Alzheimer’s disease takes a devastating toll on individuals and their loved ones, slowly stealing memories until a once vital individual is left broken and helpless. Today, some five million Americans suffer from this heartbreaking disease, but a generational time bomb is ticking. With each passing year, as the first Baby Boomers approach the age of 65, America moves closer to the brink of an epidemic. While recent advances in medical research show exciting progress, effective therapies to combat the disease are still out of reach.

On Wednesday, January 21 at 9 p.m. (ET), the groundbreaking evening of programming begins on local station with THE FORGETTING: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s, a 90-minute documentary that explores this frightening disease, the human toll it takes on patients and caregivers and the latest research in the race to find a cure. In examining this looming social and economic crisis, THE FORGETTING focuses in on stories of families whose lives have been steadily ravaged by Alzheimer’s. Like so many coping with this tragedy, these families are drawing on reservoirs of strength and compassion to stay focused on the person they love even as personalities and capabilities change from day-to-day.

ALZHEIMER’S: THE HELP YOU NEED, a half-hour follow-up special hosted by award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce, will bring together a panel of experts to provide authoritative answers to commonly-asked questions and direct viewers to organizations and resources that can offer help and support. Having experienced the ravages of Alzheimer’s first-hand — through both his grandfather’s and his father’s illnesses — Hyde Pierce, best-known for his role as Niles Crane in the NBC comedy Frasier, has been a tireless advocate in the fight to find a cure.

(Describe details of local programming/activities/resources) On (Day, Date), name of organization/station will insert outreach activities, description, time, place. In addition, organization/station will insert outreach activities, description, time, place, if further explanation needed.

"Alzheimer’s is a critical problem in our community," says Organization/Station spokesperson," and we welcome this PBS initiative and the opportunity it provides to mobilize regional resources to help people."

A groundbreaking Web site accessible at www.pbs.org/theforgetting will serve as a central hub for Alzheimer’s information and support, providing advice, resources and opportunities for Alzheimer’s families to share emotions and insights. The site — unlike any other existing Web site — will help the public understand Alzheimer’s by weaving together personal stories, science and history. Through interactive features, the site will give visitors insight into such topics as: What is it like to have Alzheimer’s? What’s normal and what’s not? Who’s at risk? How do we live well with Alzheimer’s? If applicable, insert localized Web site resources with something like: Building on the strength of this Web site, XXX’s site will….

THE FORGETTING: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s and its accompanying nationwide outreach campaign mark the first major PBS initiative on Alzheimer’s disease. The landmark program, which was produced by Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) in Minnesota for PBS, was inspired by the best-selling book The Forgetting – Alzheimer’s: Portrait of an Epidemic, by David Shenk, who served as a consultant to the documentary and appears in it.

MetLife Foundation, a longtime supporter of both public television and Alzheimer’s research, is sole underwriter of the documentary, the national follow-up program, the companion Web site and national outreach campaign. Additional support is provided for the outreach campaign by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Add name of local underwriter if applicable.

THE FORGETTING: Portrait of Alzheimer’s is produced by Twin Cities Public Television. Executive Producer: Naomi Boak; Producer and Director: Elizabeth Arledge; Editor: Doug Quade; Original Music: Mason Daring; Executive in Charge: Gerald Richman. Add local production credits here.

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