In this eye-opening episode, Christy and Marianne welcome back the formidable advocate, filmmaker, and podcast host Susie Singer Carter. Known for her poignant short film My Mom and the Girl —inspired by her experiences with her mother’s Alzheimer’s and starring the late beloved television actress Valerie Harper - and her award-winning podcast, “Love Conquers ALZ,” Susie shared details of her latest project, No Country for Old People, a stirring docuseries set to premiere on Amazon Prime August 1st.
The conversation delves into the often-unseen challenges families face when loved ones require long-term or memory care. Despite finding what she believed was a 5-star facility for her mother, Susie encountered heartbreaking realities: inadequate care, chemical restraints, and a systemic unwillingness to change.
As Susie recounted, “Most documentaries are labors of love. They’re not money makes. If you choose to do a documentary, it’s because you really care.” Her commitment shows not only in her work but in her partnership with retired federal prosecutor Rick Mountcastle (Dopesick), who spent decades investigating and prosecuting elder care fraud and neglect. Their collaboration—and the nearly 100 interviews with families, doctors, and whistleblowers—revealed this crisis is widespread, persistent, and demands urgent reform.
Processing her own trauma, Susie found motivation in community and collective action. Inspired by the lack of real change through traditional advocacy, she and her partners founded ROAR—Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform for long-term care. “Any hard issue in our society has been overcome by the collective. That’s our power,” Susie urges. She invites everyone to join the movement, harnessing the “power of love” to demand oversight and expose the veiled corporate interests prioritizing profits over people. Join the movement nocountryforoldpeople.com and learn about ROAR.
No Country for Old People will be featured in the AlzAuthors Fall Film Festival 2025 — sign up for our newsletter for details as they come out.
Mentioned Resources
- No Country for Old People docuseries: NoCountryForOldPeople.com
- Learn about ROAR and get involved: Via the website above
- AlzAuthors Film Festival Info & Newsletter Signup: AlzAuthors.com
- Susie’s other works:
- My Mom and the Girl
- Love Conquers ALZ and wherever you listen to podcasts
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
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Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.
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