USA TODAY and ABC News to Report a Special Series

USA TODAY and ABC News to Report a Special Series

'Role Reversal: Your Aging Parents And You'

MCLEAN, Va., June 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As many as 34 million Americans are currently caring for their elderly parents, and the numbers are only expected to rise. As people live longer, adult children are bearing much of the financial, legal and emotional burdens when it comes to care. This week, USA TODAY and ABC News are teaming up to explore aging in America in a series titled "Role Reversal: Your Aging Parents and You."

The series will include the release of a national public opinion poll by USA TODAY, ABC News and the Gallup Organization. The poll finds that four in 10 baby boomers with a living parent currently provide them with personal or financial assistance. Among those who expect to be called on to provide assistance in the future, 72% are concerned about their ability to handle it. Most boomers think the options for quality elder care are good, but cost is a broader worry.

USA TODAY's coverage will be reported throughout the News, Money and Life sections of the newspaper and online at USATODAY.com from Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29.

Among the issues the series will include:
-- The financial burden of providing care and how best to plan for the
future
-- Scams targeting the elderly and ways to protect yourself
-- Traditional nursing homes vs. alternative living arrangements
-- The emotional impact of providing care and its impact on the family
dynamic
-- How some businesses are responding to employees' increased family
demands

Special features and content available on Money.USATODAY.com will include:
-- Multimedia features of how Americans are balancing the demands of
raising their families and caring for their elderly parents
-- Complete USA TODAY/ABC News/Gallup poll results
-- The ability to submit questions to financial planners about handling
the costs of elder care and an online chat with certified financial
planner Nick Nicolette on Thursday, June 28 at 2 p.m. ET
-- Links to helpful websites and resources

The series will begin Sunday, June 24 on "Good Morning America," "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," and "World News" and will continue throughout the week on "GMA," "World News with Charles Gibson," and "Nightline." Reports from the series will also be featured on ABC News Radio, ABC News Now, and ABCNEWS.com.

USA TODAY and ABC News have collaborated on a number of successful joint reporting projects, most recently on the latest installment of the Emmy Award- winning series "Iraq: Where Things Stand." In June of 2007 an unprecedented content-sharing partnership was announced, providing expanded coverage of the 2008 election on USATODAY.com and ABCNEWS.com. Other joint reporting projects have included "The 7 Wonders of the World," "Living Longer, Living Better" and "Prescription for Change: Fixing American Healthcare."

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: USA TODAY

CONTACT: Heidi Zimmerman, Director/Communications, +1-703-854-5304,
hzimmerman@usatoday.com, or Alexandra Nicholson, Manager/Communications,
+1-703-854-5872, anicholson@usatoday.com, both of USA TODAY

Web site:

http://www.usatoday.com/

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