Episode 5: Do You Remember
Jamie is estranged from her father Ted. But when he is diagnosed with dementia, she is forced to determine his care. How can they rebuild their relationship as Ted is losing himself?
Director/Writer: Alison Pezanoski-Browne
“Jamie”: Lisamarie Harrison
“Ted”: Edward Stiner
Read an interview with “Do You Remember” writer/director Alison Pezanoski-Browne.
Resources for caregivers and people dealing with a family member with Alzheimer’s/Dementia:
Approximately 70% of caregivers suffer from symptoms of depression. And caring for a parent can create a whole set of unique issues, like the awkwardness when roles are reversed or supervising a parent who once took care of you. Luckily there are many resources that can help you take care of yourself while you are also taking care of your relative.
If you are a caregiver, make sure you:
- Learn as much as you can about your family member’s illness and how to be the best caregiver you can be.
- Know your limits and communicate them to the doctors, family members, and other people involved. Allow yourself breaks when you need them.
- Schedule in time to do activities you like. Don’t forget to make some time for exercise, play, laughter, and fun in your life.
- Accept your feelings. Caregiving can trigger emotions like anger, fear, resentment, guilt, helplessness, and grief. They say: “as long as your emotions don’t compromise the well-being of the care receiver, allow yourself to feel what you feel.”
- Talk to your support network. Make sure you have people you can talk to you about what you feel, whether they’re friends, family members, or other caregivers in a support group. It’s a great idea to seek out therapy.
- Let people help you! If someone offers to help you – whether it’s with grocery shopping or errands or in other ways – let them! There’s no need for you to carry the full weight on your own.
Check out Helpguide.org for more advice on taking care of yourself a caregiver.
Other resources that may be helpful include:
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia Prevention
- Read, write, and play games to avoid Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Understanding Dementia
- Recognizing Alzheimer’s Disease symptoms and stages
- Current Alzheimer’s research
- Assessing the best care option for your family member
- Coaching and counseling for caregivers
- Communication with a person with Dementia
- Alzheimer’s behavior management
- Caregiver stress check
- Planning and preparing for Alzheimer’s/Dementia caregiving
- Helpful tips for Alzheimer’s/Dementia caregivers
- Find local care
- Eldercare Locator
- Finding respite care
- Adult day services
- Join an online support group or Caregiving online community
- Call 1-866-EndHarm if you are worried that you or someone else may be abusing an adult in their care.
Thank you for posting the tips about dealing with a family member with Alzheimer’s/Dementia. Useful information like this is part of the reason why I come to this site and why I tell my friends about it.
Wow, what an episode! An incredibly realistic portrayal of a point in one’s journey, that has the ability to erase nearly, if not all, of what preceded it. So often, it’s the caregiver that takes the hit, and is put into a position of making all sorts of decisions on behalf of the sufferer.
A beautiful job of writing and acting.
Very sad episode. It’s a seemingly no- win situation, but this episode leaves me believing there could be some measure of hope at least for their relationship.
It can be pretty unbelievable when you come into first hand contact with someone with a memory loss or dementia-centered illness. This episode really filled the air with the complex feelings of her situation. Well done!
Wonderful story line and great directing work, Alley! Funny how the tone of anger from a loved one can spark lost memories in
someone suffering from this disease.
I read somewhere that within 30 years Alzheimer’s is expected to affect 1 in 80 people worldwide. We can no longer shelve it and pray that we are in the clear. If we learn nothing else from this wonderful story we must remember to acknowledge and care for the caregivers as much as the infirmed.
The cost of placing a loved one in a home is enough to give anyone dementia. It’s amazing how some moments they can be in another world and at others they are recalling the most specific details of a long hard life. I REALLY can relate to this piece. Though I wish I couldn’t.
tj
Very well written portrayal of a complex relationship. Great job.
Nicely done. Parental dementia is a difficult thing, and this piece definitely handled it with appropriate care. Thanks!