HEllo

So I was lucky enough to have a friend tape all the HBO Alzheimer's series and I just finished watching the Caregiver one. First of all let me commend HBO for making this series and trying to bring this disease to the public, no matter what people think of the series it's all about awareness and every little bit helps. However I do have some comments about the film.

I do appreciate the fact they showed many different aspects of caregiving and I thought each story was done well and I again commend all the families involved. But you still didn't get a sense of what caregiving is when dealing with someone with Alzheimer's. For people who don't know a lot about the disease and what a caregiver goes through, I don't believe the film showed the real side of caregiving. Maybe they should have only stayed with a few families and really showed all aspects of caregiving and the true pain they go through. What about trying to put someone into a home? and the guilt a family goes through? Where was that?
I also didn't like hearing the interviewers voice, but that's just my opinion.

Anyways I will try to watch the other parts soon.

Thanks again for making the series

Chris Wynn
Director & Caregiver
Forgetful Not Forgotten

Hello Chris!
I'm not sure that any of us from this site have actually welcomed you to this site?? At any rate, it is worth mentioning again, ,Welcome! You have so much to offer and a warm welcome is all yours!. I hope that some of your followers will join us also in our support effort. We all need to share and support each other. Alzheimer's knows no boarders and even if it did I would catch it anyway. I spend a lot of time in Canada!

Thanks Ttom! and thanks for all your support!

Chris

I saw all of it on my pc from HBO.I thought it was very well done.It didn't show the horrors of what really happens but nonetheless very well done..........

Chris - how weird, I just mentioned you on another thread yesterday.

This is no competition, but I posted yesterday that your film about your dad portrays a true ALZ experience (good and bad) and I prefer it over this series from HBO.

Chris, I echo your sentiments exactly and thank you for posting. I often feel that friends & family wonder why I should be having any stress at all after Dad was placed in an assisted living facility. It so doesn't end there! My life is so intimately connected with Dad's that I hardly know myself anymore. Like you said, the constant guilt, heartache, depression, sadness, anger, frustration -- all of it was barely touched on in the caregiving segment. I would have liked to see a caregiver have a good heart wrenching cry like the ones I sometimes have. That's the reality.

Hi Sheila, my mom was in an ACF and passed away 1 month ago. I'm still dealing with all the emotions you mentioned and sometimes it feels worse now than when she was still alive. I also have my good cries here and there.

Oh how I miss my mom!

Dear Sarah12,
I'm so sorry to hear of your Mom's death. I know you must feeling so many things.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at the time.
Your Mom is at peace now. It's time to take care of yourself.
Please, call your local AD Assn for support. I hope you are able to find others like yourself to talk with in person. Sometimes that really helps. And, WE'RE here for you too!

Please, take care and keep in touch,

Dear Sarah, I'm so sorry to hear you lost your mom. I've often seen your tag line on the caregiver forum, "If I had a flower for every time I thought of my mother, I could walk in my garden forever." What a stirring sentiment! It paints a beautiful picture of your love for your mother. What a strong bond you two must have had.

I lost my mother to cancer 16 years ago. I keep her photo right in front of my keyboard so I can see her all the time. Believe me, that bond never dies.

It's good to feel all kinds of emotions. They have their purpose. Don't try to suppress them.

Let me send you a hug over the cyberwaves:
{{{{{Sarah}}}}}

Iris L.

quote:

Originally posted by Iris L.:
Dear Sarah, I'm so sorry to hear you lost your mom. I've often seen your tag line on the caregiver forum, "If I had a flower for every time I thought of my mother, I could walk in my garden forever." What a stirring sentiment! It paints a beautiful picture of your love for your mother. What a strong bond you two must have had.

I lost my mother to cancer 16 years ago. I keep her photo right in front of my keyboard so I can see her all the time. Believe me, that bond never dies.

It's good to feel all kinds of emotions. They have their purpose. Don't try to suppress them.

Let me send you a hug over the cyberwaves:
{{{{{Sarah}}}}}

Iris L.

awww... Thank you Iris! You made me cry! Hugz back to you! }}}hug{{{

P.S. I have pics of my mom every where!

I just watched a few of the HBO videos tonight, and I agree with Chris that the Caregivers video was severely lacking reality. It looked sad, but not difficult. I believe what they were trying to do is to show the best possible models of caregiving to provide an example of the ideal way to manage the process. I think all of us will intuitively notice where our experiences differ, and perhaps we can change something to make it a little bit more idyllic.

There really isn't any point in making a documentary about the tragedy of it all. We know that side all too well.

hi

Dear Jezza

I understand what HBO was trying to do, but I believe in telling the truth, and if you're going to show one side then you should show the other as well, and I think that the reality of what caregivers go through should be shown to bring more awareness. We might know that side all too well, but others don't.

Chris
Film director & caregiver
Forgetful Not Forgotten

Hi back teto666,
Glad you came by. Hope you'll share your story with us.
Welcome.
Please, come back and share your thoughts and feelings.

Dear Cawynn,
I agree that both sides should be shown but to reach a general audience you can't show too many reality horrors or they will turn it off!

I think HBO needed to reach a wide range of the audience. With that, sometimes, you have to make accommodations! I just glad they did the Series!

Thanks for sharing.

Dear Lisa

I see your point and I am also glad they made the series to help bring awareness,but there are still other stories to be told!
I hope you get a chance to see my film one day!

Chris

Dear Chris,

I'm sorry I forgot the name of your film.

How can I see it?

Hi Lisa

It's called Forgetful Not Forgotten, and the DVD is available on our website!

Chris
www.forgetfulnotforgotten.com

I too just watched (finally) the Caregiver part and I'm so disappointed! That is so not like the majority of most of our lives.

If they had done one on me and Mom when she lived with us, you have one truly Rated R Horror Flick with no blood and guts. Believe me, it would have gotten researchers finding the vaccine YESTERDAY and medicines to cure those already with it to make sure no one else goes through this disease.

Sharla