Andrea cares for her mother Kristy, who has lived with her in a small town in Michigan since she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Andrea also works full-time.
Carlos Jr. is in his 80s and struggling with cognitive decline. His son—also named Carlos—has moved back home to Sacramento, California to care for his father.
Sue and Janice have been together for over 40 years. Sue’s Alzhiemer’s is progressing and she is having a more difficult time expressing herself and communicating her wants and needs.
Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s is an intimate look at three caregiving families with loved ones currently living through various stages of the disease.
The Joy of Caregiving
The film is part of PBS’s Independent Lens series, and in many ways it highlights the joy that remains in the lives of the person living with Alzheimer’s disease and the caregivers that are with them every step of the way. We see the friendly banter between Kristy and Andrea as they playfully toss a ball around the house, as well as happy scenes from the barber shop as Carlos Jr. gets a trim. Sue shows off her sense of humor and spontaneously breaks into song, much to the delight of her partner Janice. Carlos Jr. shows off his incredible artwork, including complex illustrations, ceramics, and large-format wood frames. Andrea happily reminisces about the not-too-distant past when she and her mom would sing together at church.
Each vignette highlights how caregivers and their care recipients can still share moments of joy throughout their day-to-day lives.
Challenges of Caregiving
Common obstacles and issues that people face throughout their Alzheimer’s journeys rise to the surface throughout the My Alzheimer’s. Viewers with experience with dementia caregiving will recognize instances of wandering, resistance to restorative therapy, and lack of access to critical programs. “Sometimes I feel like a single mother,” says Janice, describing her life as Sue’s primary caregiver.
This film—the third in a series of Matter of Mind documentaries —also brings to light some uncommon challenges in the lives of these three families. When Carlos Jr.’s brother dies, how does his father handle the news? As Andrea considers moving to a larger city with greater access to assistance, how will her mother react? Will Janice be successful pushing through Sue’s CDPAP application, potentially giving them much-needed funds to pay professional caregivers as Sue’s Alzheimer’s progresses?
Watch Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s now on the PBS website
My Alzheimer’s was screened in April at the Little Theatre in Rochester, New York followed by a panel discussion featuring local caregiving experts moderated by WXXI News Health Reporter Racquel Stephen.
