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LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Susie Singer Carter
Singer Carter: Shining a Light on Elder Care Reform
About the Guest
In this moving episode, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Susie Singer Carter, an award-winning and Oscar-qualified filmmaker, writer, and outspoken advocate for elder care reform. Susie is best known for her groundbreaking documentary No Country for Old People, a film born from her personal experiences as a caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer’s. Her work not only exposes the systemic neglect and abuse in long-term care facilities but also ignites national dialogue about compassion, dignity, and justice for some of society’s most vulnerable citizens.
A Journey Fueled by Love and Loss
Susie’s advocacy began at home as she navigated her mother’s long battle with Alzheimer’s. She discovered firsthand the stigma and misunderstanding that still surround dementia, even within the medical community. Her short film, My Mom and the Girl, portrayed Alzheimer’s through a lens of joy and resilience, reminding audiences that people living with cognitive decline still have value, purpose, and humanity. When her mother eventually entered a nursing facility, Susie encountered the harsh realities of America’s elder care system. From understaffing to preventable neglect, she was shocked to witness the consequences of a profit-driven model that too often reduces elders to costs rather than people.
Exposing Systemic Failures
The COVID-19 pandemic magnified these flaws. Families like Susie’s endured heartbreaking separations, while residents suffered isolation, malnutrition, untreated conditions, and premature deaths. Susie describes discovering her mother with a stage four bedsore—a preventable condition that spiraled into sepsis and ultimately contributed to her passing. Through her research, Susie connected with federal prosecutor Rick Mountcastle, who confirmed that what she witnessed was not unique but part of a deeply entrenched, decades-old systemic crisis. Corporate structures, real estate investment trusts, and industry lobbying have created layers of protection that insulate those responsible while leaving patients and families powerless.
Purpose, Dignity, and Community
Despite her grief, Susie channeled her pain into storytelling and advocacy. She believes a fantastic life is built on three pillars: purpose, dignity, and community. Her mother, even in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, embodied this philosophy by cherishing life and connection. Susie urges us all to view aging not as a burden but as a shared destiny deserving respect. Ageism, she argues, is simply a bias against our future selves. By shifting collective consciousness, society can embrace the elderly and vulnerable as human beings, not commodities.
The Power of Collective Action
To spark reform, Susie co-founded the movement ROAR: Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform. She calls on listeners to raise their voices, stand for accountability, and demand systemic change from the ground up. Like other social justice movements, she believes momentum must come from ordinary people refusing to accept the status quo. Through No Country for Old People, Susie hopes to validate families who have suffered in silence and inspire a groundswell for transparency and reform.
Watch and Support
No Country for Old People is now streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Hoopla. Visit www.NoCountryforOldPeople.com to learn more. You can also connect with Susie at www.GoGirlMedia.com or on social media under her name. She welcomes thoughtful engagement from anyone who wants to join the movement.
Closing Inspiration
As Dr. Lycka reflects, sometimes a fantastic life means courageously confronting uncomfortable truths. Susie Singer Carter reminds us that change begins when we choose to care—for our parents, our neighbors, and ultimately, our future selves. Her story is a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the belief that dignity must never be optional.
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By Brushwood Media NetworkSinger Carter: Shining a Light on Elder Care Reform
About the Guest
In this moving episode, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Susie Singer Carter, an award-winning and Oscar-qualified filmmaker, writer, and outspoken advocate for elder care reform. Susie is best known for her groundbreaking documentary No Country for Old People, a film born from her personal experiences as a caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer’s. Her work not only exposes the systemic neglect and abuse in long-term care facilities but also ignites national dialogue about compassion, dignity, and justice for some of society’s most vulnerable citizens.
A Journey Fueled by Love and Loss
Susie’s advocacy began at home as she navigated her mother’s long battle with Alzheimer’s. She discovered firsthand the stigma and misunderstanding that still surround dementia, even within the medical community. Her short film, My Mom and the Girl, portrayed Alzheimer’s through a lens of joy and resilience, reminding audiences that people living with cognitive decline still have value, purpose, and humanity. When her mother eventually entered a nursing facility, Susie encountered the harsh realities of America’s elder care system. From understaffing to preventable neglect, she was shocked to witness the consequences of a profit-driven model that too often reduces elders to costs rather than people.
Exposing Systemic Failures
The COVID-19 pandemic magnified these flaws. Families like Susie’s endured heartbreaking separations, while residents suffered isolation, malnutrition, untreated conditions, and premature deaths. Susie describes discovering her mother with a stage four bedsore—a preventable condition that spiraled into sepsis and ultimately contributed to her passing. Through her research, Susie connected with federal prosecutor Rick Mountcastle, who confirmed that what she witnessed was not unique but part of a deeply entrenched, decades-old systemic crisis. Corporate structures, real estate investment trusts, and industry lobbying have created layers of protection that insulate those responsible while leaving patients and families powerless.
Purpose, Dignity, and Community
Despite her grief, Susie channeled her pain into storytelling and advocacy. She believes a fantastic life is built on three pillars: purpose, dignity, and community. Her mother, even in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, embodied this philosophy by cherishing life and connection. Susie urges us all to view aging not as a burden but as a shared destiny deserving respect. Ageism, she argues, is simply a bias against our future selves. By shifting collective consciousness, society can embrace the elderly and vulnerable as human beings, not commodities.
The Power of Collective Action
To spark reform, Susie co-founded the movement ROAR: Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform. She calls on listeners to raise their voices, stand for accountability, and demand systemic change from the ground up. Like other social justice movements, she believes momentum must come from ordinary people refusing to accept the status quo. Through No Country for Old People, Susie hopes to validate families who have suffered in silence and inspire a groundswell for transparency and reform.
Watch and Support
No Country for Old People is now streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Hoopla. Visit www.NoCountryforOldPeople.com to learn more. You can also connect with Susie at www.GoGirlMedia.com or on social media under her name. She welcomes thoughtful engagement from anyone who wants to join the movement.
Closing Inspiration
As Dr. Lycka reflects, sometimes a fantastic life means courageously confronting uncomfortable truths. Susie Singer Carter reminds us that change begins when we choose to care—for our parents, our neighbors, and ultimately, our future selves. Her story is a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the belief that dignity must never be optional.