The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility
New release
Coming 
None

A House Divided: Caregiver Stress and Elder Abuse

1988 35 min
Leaving soon

Through 4 moving portraits, this short documentary sheds light on the tragedy of caregiver stress and elder abuse. The abuse takes many forms, ranging from wilful neglect and financial exploitation to physical assault. The film portrays the emotional complexity of family relationships that can lead to abuse of the elderly, the anguish and isolation of its victims, and the need for community understanding and support.

This content is not available for free viewing in your location.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
Not available
Share
A House Divided: Caregiver Stress and Elder Abuse

Details

Through 4 moving portraits, this short documentary sheds light on the tragedy of caregiver stress and elder abuse. The abuse takes many forms, ranging from wilful neglect and financial exploitation to physical assault. The film portrays the emotional complexity of family relationships that can lead to abuse of the elderly, the anguish and isolation of its victims, and the need for community understanding and support.

  • director
    Lyn Wright
  • script
    Lyn Wright
  • narrator
    Lyn Wright
  • producer
    Silva Basmajian
  • executive producer
    John Spotton
  • cinematography
    John Walker
    David Meyers
    Charles Konowal
  • sound
    Ross Redfern
    Stephen Longstreth
    Michael Mirus
  • editing
    John Kramer
  • sound editing
    Eva Jaworska
  • re-recording
    Jack Heeren
  • music
    Randolph Peters

Enjoy the NFB experience on your favourite device

Education

Ages 16 to 18
Study Guides
School subjects

Warning (if any): Partial nudity (posterior), descriptions of violence, photos of bruises on elderly woman after elder abuse

Brief “lesson launcher type” activity or a series of inquiry questions with a bit of context:

Documentary profiling the challenges faced by families when caring for elderly family members in the home setting, as well as the difficulty of coming to terms with institutional care for their loved ones.

How do different families take care of their elderly members based on cultural norms and expectations?

As we approach the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, how might our institutions better prepare in order to deal with the potential influx of residents?

A House Divided: Caregiver Stress and Elder Abuse
Purchase options
Also available
Licence information
Already paid to see this film?
Licencing information

Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted. Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.) You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices. DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.