I'm posting this "tongue in cheek" (slightly) because there seems to be a lot of opinion out there that the HBO project did not show much of the real "drama" associated with dealing with ALZ.
Maybe they need to run a series based on several families over a period of time dealing with all of the ups and downs and drama of dealing with ALZ. Of course in order for it to be truly real, those families would have to be willing to hold little or nothing back including:
relatives who don't show up,
finances that are in the toilet,
arguments - tears - and every negative emotion,
toileting issues
bathing issues
absent friends
and every other sort of "good and bad" issue associated with their daily lives.
They would have to be willing to have a film crew around for extended periods of time day and night, thus adding to the stress level

I wonder, how many of us would be willing to put our Loved One, our family and ourselves through something like this?

Just Wondering.

James, there doesn't necessarily have to be a film crew. There are high quality digital recorders that are compact, and only require a crew of one. It won't turn out the quality that can be shown on a movie theater screen, but it's fine for tv.

I'd like to see an hour devoted to a patient and caretaker, where the situation is a fairly functional patient, who becomes unmanageable some days, something like sundowning. I'd like to see the extremes of behavior. To be in on the doctor visits, to see how little the doctor probably has to say. Watch the caretaker calling family, who blow him/her off and take no responsibility. And all the things you said, which are excellent ideas.

You know, for the extended periods, weekends, overnights, the caregiver could probably work the camera good enough for the documentary, at least several good seconds here and there. No crew needed.

And you know, sometimes there is no right answer. No golden path to follow. And if we can do anything to make it easier for others, that's a fair deal in exchange for a few hours of discomfort.

There is a documentary filmed by a man named Chris Wynn about his dad's journey. I believe he has posted to the board before. It's called "Forgetful, Not Forgotten" and it is the most comprehensive documentation I have seen of what AD is and what AD looks like. I have purchased the DVD because it is so good and depicts a lot of my everyday life. It contains the good and the bad of their lives and documents some of the difficult decisions that families have to make. I have written to Chris on another board and asked how his father reacted to the camera. The answer is that he was not aware of it at all.

I think that is why I was so disappointed in HBO's effort. I see a man with a handheld and a fixed camera who made a beautiful and moving depiction of his father's life from mid stage to the end, and I thought HBO, with all of the money and resources at their disposal (not to mention the assistance of the Alzheimer's Association) and they came out with the films they did.

This is not an opinion of the people who appeared in the films.

My disappointment comes with the information presented (or not) and the editing that was done that makes AD seem like an unfortunate disease that happens, instead of a disease and experience that profoundly changes not only the person with the disease, but the people who take care of that person.

Hi Judy

Thanks for your message!

Chris

Hi to All,
There are lots of things I would have like to have seen on the HBO AD Series; however, I'm still very glad HBO did the series. It was a good start!

Remember, you can't be too graphic about real life life/death diseases because you will loose/scare off the audience you so desperately need to reach!

Most people still don't want to see or accept the truth!

Again, I thank HBO!