Rona Barrett Advocates for Seniors

Article

Santa Barbara Family Life
November 2009

As the Needs of Seniors Grow, So Must Our Compassion and Action!

by Rona Barrett

I applaud the values set forth in Santa Barbara Family Life Magazine – they honor community, family, nonprofits and people doing good things for others. I’m particularly proud to be a special contributor to this inaugural Santa Barbara Family Life “Seniors” edition that shines a light on the elderly. As you may know, challenges related to seniors have been my driving passion since personally experiencing a myriad of issues while caring for my elderly father. I know if I was having difficulties, even with all of my resources, other caregivers were certainly in very difficult circumstances. I was determined something must be done and in response I created The Rona Barrett Foundation as a service to seniors in need. But before I go on with further information about the Foundation, for context let me first share with you a bit of my background.

I was born to a Jewish family in New York City and was diagnosed with a rare form of an arrested muscular dystrophy at age nine. As I grew older and because of my health struggles, I was convinced I would become a doctor until my uncle, a lawyer, advised me to switch to journalism. I couldn’t deny my fascination with celebrities and what made their lives tick!

I had many early struggles reaching my goals, but I eventually landed in Hollywood and things really began to change for me. Through a series of events, and no small degree of determination, I began broadcasting Hollywood news on the Los Angeles television station KABC-TV, in 1966. Soon my Hollywood news segment started to appear on ABC’s five owned and operated stations around the country.

Next I developed the first in-depth personal TV Specials about the celebrities of motion pictures, television, music, sports and politics, and had a series of magazines on the entertainment industry that were top-rated at newsstands, including Rona Barrett’s Hollywood. I began my stint on Good Morning America in 1975. In 1986 I bought my first small ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley and in 1991 moved their full time when I decided to retire from my long-time career.

It was in the mid 1990’s that a greater percentage of my time was spent in caring for my dear father, after my mother passed away. I became immersed in paper work, insurance forms, doctor bills, and hospital visits. It got overwhelming and I really began to question what was going on and what other people, those on the lower end of the economic spectrum must be going through. On my farm in Santa Ynez, I was inspired to create products that would help support a foundation devoted to seniors. I wanted to use my name and “celebrity” to advocate for seniors. It was all starting to take shape. I created a successful lavender product line, much in the Paul Newman model, where a percentage of sales would support charity. Over the years, I’ve conducted media interviews and had speaking opportunities to become a voice for those who did not have the power or means to speak for themselves.

This past year, I released the first in a series of DVDs called ‘Rona Barrett’s Hollywood: Nothing But the Truth,’ a collection of some of my past interviews, starting with ten of my personal favorites. One dollar of every sale goes to the Foundation!

And just last month, I was honored with a Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs. It was a thrill and very humbling but, most importantly, it gave me a great platform from which to talk about the plight of seniors and their families. My visit to Palm Springs attracted much press and each interview was a chance to discuss these important issues.

You may wonder (especially if you haven’t personally had to—yet—care for an elderly loved one) what my greatest concerns are. Well, let me tell you. We are having a crisis in so many areas of this country and the people who seem to be suffering the most are seniors. Seniors really are the people who do not have the funds to buy insurance and get the health care they need. I’m talking about the elderly poor. They’ve spent a lifetime caring for us yet they are often easily forgotten and discarded by us. They often have to make financial choices between feeding themselves and buying medicines or other essentials. As they grow older and frailer everything becomes more complicated including housing and housing related support and care. It’s truly heartbreaking and it is going on all around us.

If you would like to help me in my cause to help advocate for and support the day-to-day needs of seniors, please visit ronabarrett.com to learn more and make a donation. Every little bit helps. The Foundation provides grants to other non-profits who supply food, shelter, clothing, etc. to seniors and their families with specific requests.

The Foundation has also created a pilot program for a new type of senior living facility and other senior needs. You might call it a “one-stop-center,” which can be duplicated in other communities across this still great nation.