A Daughter's Fight to Change Long-Term Care with Susie Singer Carter

This week on the podcast, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan is joined by Susie Singer Carter, a filmmaker, advocate, and caregiver, who shares her deeply personal journey into caregiving—and how it transformed her life, her work, and her mission. Inspired by her mother's 16-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, Susie recounts moving from "caregiver by surprise" to outspoken advocate for systemic reform in long-term care. Her mother, Norma Pecora, a former opera singer and art dealer, wasdiagnosed at age 72. Norma lived with Susie for a year following the death of her husband—an experience that was both profoundly challenging and unexpectedly beautiful. That journey ultimately led to Susie's award-winning documentary, "No Country for Old People," which exposes the harsh realities of institutional long-term care, including chronic understaffing, neglect, and a lack of transparency and accountability. The film has since become a catalyst for national conversation and action. Susie also discusses how her advocacy grew from grief, leading to the creation of the ROAR movement—a growing effort to raise public awareness, empower families, and push for legislative change to protect older adults and other vulnerable people in care settings. This episode is a powerful exploration of love, loss, rage, resilience, and the urgent need to reimagine how we value and care for older people. Watch the film HERE on Amazon Prime.