Assignment one Re-purposed

8/17/2019 Assignment one Re-purposed

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T he Alzheimer’s

Pro ject


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http://drjockers.com/20-ways-to-beat-alzheimers-disease/


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OBSERVATION ONE WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

HBO: THEALZHEIMER’SPROJECT PART 1

BackgroundInformation:

The HBO Alzheimer’sProject shows the effects ofthe disease on those with

the illness as well as how itaffects their families. The project consists of a four part documentary series, 15short films and a campaignthat serves purpose to

provide information aboutthis devastating illness. Inthis specific documentary,they show the stories ofabout four patients with thedisease and the impact ithas made on their lives. Theobservation takes place in avariety of different States inthe US. The recordings ofthese films take place in

. OBSERVATION Note: The documentary Iam observing is 39 minuteslong and I will be observingthe first 25 minutes of the

footage. I’ve divided thesetimes based on when thescene changes from oneindividual’s alzheimer’sstory to another. For each

person in this observation, Iobserved the first 6 minutesof their story, as it seemed toentail the most importantdetails.


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Main Actors

Confusion, forgetfulness,frustration- We get to seehow as a result of theillness, patients experiencethese three feelings themost. They get confusedabout what is taking placein their surroundings,

begin to forget everythingthat was once important tothem and ultimatelyfrustrated at the fact thatthey cannot control whatis happening.

Bessie Knapmiller - An 87year old female, who wasdiagnosed with Alz. 2months ago. She lives alonewith her dog in the homethat her now deceasedhusband was born in. Hermemory is deteriorating at arelatively fast rate. She isable to recognize faces butthe names do not follow.

Fannie Davis - 82 year oldfemale, who was diagnosedwith the illness 3 monthsago. She is a widow and inher early stage ofAlzheimer’s. Fannie has beenused to being independentand taking care of herself

practically all her life and soshe does not take theunfortunate news too well.

Joe Potocny- 63 year old malewho was diagnosed 2 years ago.He lives with his wife and as away to cope with his situation hedesigned a blog in which he putshis thoughts, feelings andmemories every day as the illness

progresses.


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T he Observation

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=47722004

The Observation

Start- 6 minutes: The scenery is of a narrow road covered withfog all around. The Patient Bessie, is at her doctor’s visit andthough we cannot see them yet, their voice is audible in the

background. The scene switches to the doctor’s office and heasks a series of questions such as what day it is, the season andthe former president. Bessie is now at home with her dog andher daughter is visiting from next door and they have adiscussion about her taking her medication. Bessie feels the

medication will not make a difference as she’s aware there is nocure and no matter what she takes, it will only progress. It isrevealed that her sister Harriet,93, also fell ill to the disease. Thescene switches to Bessie’s choir rehearsal where she forgets allthe words to the songs.


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http://dzd.blog.uni-wh.de/soziale-medien-in-vermittlungspraxis-blogs-uber-demenz_02/

12-18 minutes: Fannie isintroduced at her home in Missouri

with her daughter as they talkabout how it has affected her life.The next scene shows Fannie atthe doctor’s office beingadministered a test to see if she isstill capable of driving. She isshown various signs and askedwhat she would do if sheencountered such signs. Fannie isthen taken outside to participate in

a driving test to see how well hermemory of driving is. At first shestruggles with starting the car then

proceeds to driving. Shedemonstrated difficulties as shewas driving, she stopped whenthere was not a stop sign and droveinto oncoming traffic. As Fanniewas driving further in the test, theinstructor told her to make a rightand was highly incapable of doingso. She is in denial and is furiatedat the fact that she can no longerdrive. The doctor tells her she nowhas to arrange to be driveneverywhere and she is moreworried about losing herindependence than her safety.


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20- 26 minutes: Joe Is shown at home where he talks abouthis accomplishments in the working field. He talked about how

he helped create some of the most used and well known items inthe world today for instance, the DVD. The scene switches to him

sitting around his computer explaining what his method of coping with alz is. Joe relieson a blog that he created, “Living with Alzheimer’s”, to basically write down how he

feels day by day and the changes that are occurring. As he writes his thoughts throughout

the day, you can see how heartbroken he is because he knows he will soon get to the point of no return. He decided to paint his home as a project and I believe doing thesethings help him find some kind of inner peace and to keep the little sanity he has left. Hiswife and family are very patient with him so he is not alone though he may often feel thatway. At times he may become unintentionally rude and blunt to those around him, this is

shown in the way he sometimes speaks to his wife as well as the cameramen when he tellsthem, he does not want to see their faces . http://dzd.blog.uni-wh.de/soziale-medien-in-vermittlungspraxis-blogs-uber-demenz_02/

OBSERVATION 2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6,2015

HBO: THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT PART 2

Note: the documentary I amobserving is 44 minutes long. Iwill be observing the first 33minutes of the footage. I’vedivided these times based onwhen the scene changes fromone individual’s alzheimer’sstory to another. For eachperson in this observation, Iobserved the first 10 minutes oftheir story, as it seemed toentail the most importantdetails.


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Main Actors Throughout theFilm:

Background Information:

The HBO Alzheimer’s Project shows the effects of

the disease on those with the illness as well as how itaffects their families. The project consists of a four part documentary series, 15 short films and acampaign that serves purpose to provide informationabout this devastating illness. In this specificdocumentary, they show the stories of about four

patients with the disease and the impact it has madeon their lives. The scenes that I will be observingtakes place in the different states in the US. Therecordings of these films take place in Rochester,

Michigan, Blooming Prairie, Minnesota andGuntersville, Alabama.

1. Woody Geist- 81 year oldmale who was diagnosed14 years ago. Woody isexperiencing the severe

stage of Alzheimer’s,otherwise known as thelate stage. He onlyrecollects memories thathas happened in hisearlier stage of life. He

now resides in a nursinghome with frequent visits

from his family.

2. Josephine Mickow- 77 yearold female who wasdiagnosed 5 years ago. Herillness progressed at aquick rate and as a result ofthis she has lost almostcomplete ability to makeverbal communication.

Josephine lives with herdaughter.


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The Observation

Cliff Holman- 79 year

old male, diagnosedwith Alzheimer’s 6 yearsago. Cliff still remainsaware of certain thingsbut typically things froma while back. He lives

Start- 10 minutes- Woody’s story begins with his sister a record being played in thebackground. We are introduced to Woody’s daughter and wife talking about his lifebefore he fell to the illness and his love for music. Woody greatly values music. Hewhistles to a song as he is shown sitting on a couch in the nursing home. The caregiverasks questions to the patients, some who seem to be in the mid-stage of alzheimer’s andother in the late stage such as Woody. An old lady cries repeatedly in the backgroundmumbling, “ I can’t do this, I don’t like it” as she rubs her face. She is paid no attentionto as it seems it has become a norm. Woody has developed an attachment to one of the

patients in the nursing home.

Her name is Kathy and they are very affection towards each other and can be seeneverywhere together. Kathy tells all the folks at the home that Woody is herhusband and he agrees. When Woody’s wife and daughter come to visit, they greet

Kathy almost as if she has become family to them. They take him out to a grunyonand during the car ride he repetitively asks the same questions. “Why are we inhere?” “Where are we going?” “Will I know these people?” His family has

become accustomed to behavior as they make small jokes about the issue. WhileWoody is at the grunyon, they honor him on stage and he sang songs with his oldcompanions. It is almost intriguing to watch Woody sing the songs word for word,as the alzheimer’s has not yet affected all of his long term memories.


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14- 22 minutes- The scene is introduced on a vast farmland area with a soothing gust ofwind blowing in the background. Josephine is playing with a metal chain wrappedaround a gate as she hums and makes a repetitive noise. The chain is used as protective

measures so that she does not go wandering off. Her daughter is now on the scenetalking about her fears for her mother as she begins to cry. Josephine has becomeunaware of her surroundings and barely withholds any recollection of any form. Shemainly interacts with object around her and communicates with herself. Beforeencountering alzheimer’s, Josephine painted a lot and so she tends to paint over her oldcanvases or on rocks that she finds. She mainly interacts with object around her andcommunicates with herself. Before encountering alzheimer’s, Josephine painted a lotand so she tends to paint over her old canvases or on rocks that she finds.

This indicates that, that part of her hasn’t completely left as yet. While they areout for a walk, her daughter picks up a small stone and shows it to her. Josephinetakes the stone and proceeds to putting it in her mouth. Her daughter tries toremain calm so she can remove the stone from her mouth but Josephine refusedand became defensive. After it is removed, the scene switches to the kitchenwhere the daughter blames herself and starts to cry. In the final scene, they go tocollect the mail and Josephine tries to wander off alone and she is quickly

grabbed and directed home by the daughter

23- 33 minutes- The scene starts with Cliff laying still in bed with an old TV show playing on the television in the background. His wife then walks into the room and sees him trying to get out of bed as she lays him back down and asks him to remainin bed, although she knows it is a matter of seconds before he tries to move again.

She claims the reason for him attempting to get out of bed is a representation ofknowing he has somewhere to be. She has hired a personal home caregiver to feed,

groom and wash him. His wife states that he likes things almost as children do, such as excessively sweet and fatty foods. As she prepares him a meal she puts a lotof butter and sugar on the food because he won’t have it any other way.


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Main Actors Throughout the Film:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=47722004

Background Information:

This aspect of the projects does not necessarily focuson the lives of those with Alzheimer’s and how it affectsthem, rather, how it affects the lives of their

grandchildren. The children are introduced and each share a very brief summary of their situation. Itultimately serves purpose to help the children becomemore aware of what is happening to their grandparentsand wh it is ha enin .

1. Maria Shriver age 61- Theauthor of the book “What ishappening to my grandpa” is

the narrator of thisdocumentary. Her father fell illto alzheimer’s and so shedecided to create a film thatare victims of grandparentswith the disease. She givescommentary throughout the

film and lessons to help thechildren with their concerns.

2. Saralyn, age 8- “ Iremember my

grandmother a lot before she got Alzheimer’sdisease, when she could

speak, when she couldwalk and when she couldhug me.”

I. Maria Shriver age 61- Theauthor of the book “What ishappening to my grandpa” isthe narrator of thisdocumentary. Her father fell illto alzheimer’s and so shedecided to create a film thatare victims of grandparentswith the disease. She givescommentary throughout the

film and lessons to help thechildren with their concerns.


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4. Hayley, age 7- “ My grandpa Brooks isreally great and he loveschildren. Sometimes hedoes remember my name,

sometimes he doesn’t.”

3. Hayley, age 7-“ My grandpa Brooksis really great and he

loves children.Sometimes he doesremember my name,

sometimes hedoesn’t.”

5. Margaret, age 10(Genevieve’s sister)- “ Itmakes us nervous whenwe think about our

grandpa and all the

alzheimer’s things thatcould happen. He won'teven remember me, so itwill be like I’m a

stranger.”

6. Liam, age 8(Genevieve and

Margaret’s brother)-“ Once he realy

forgets us, I think we’llbe really really sad but

for now we’re worriedabout him but we’renot too sad.”

7. Drew, age 12- “ I usedto think it was somehowmy fault but now I know I

just think it’s somethingthat happens and it’s justmutations in the genes or

something.”

8. Daylen, age 7- “ I havea grandfather that hasalzheimer’s. It’s a sickness thatmakes the person that’s got itnot remember things.”


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Name of interviewee: Roberto Vargas Age: 18

Attends: University Of North Carolina, Charlotte

The Observation

2- 8 mins - Genevieve sits on a park bench watching a kite fly withher grandfather. She questions him about whether or not he willforget her one moment and then remember her the next and thenultimately forgets her completely. In a saddened but soothing voicehe tells her, “ I would want to not ever have that happen but if I doforget you, i probably will never remember you again.” Genevievelooks to be hurt but rather understanding by what he has said. Theyare joined by the other 2 grandchildren and his wife as they move toa picnic table and they ask him questions as well. At one point he isasked if he remembers their mother’s name and he jokingly says,“mother.” When they realized he could not remember the name,

they helped him out. Maria Shriver begins her commentary on thefirst lesson and says she believes that the more families sit downand have open discussions about the situation, the easier it is tocope.


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I conducted my interview on one of my fellow classmates, RobertoVargas. Roberto’s grandmother is 90 years old and suffers fromlate-stage Alzheimer’s. Due to the fact that he has first handexperience, it made sense to carry out my interview with him as hewas a good candidate and would be able to relate more to thequestions asked.

1. What was it like or how did you react when you found out your grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?

“ Um, I mean I didn’t have a reaction because I didn’t really know’ ”

2. How old were you when you found out she has Alzheimer’s? Did you have any knowledge on what that was?

“I was around 9 or 10 and at the time, I was young so I didn't reallyknow what that meant.”


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3. Do you remember anything specific that she did as a result of theillness?

“She would always lose her purse. Always. Once she lost her purse

and it took us about 2 months to find it”

4. Do you have memories of how she was prior to being diagnosedwith the illness?

“She would always cook and she would cook the best food ever andshe was nice. But what I remember most was her cooking because it

5. If at all, how has it affected your relationship with her? “Now I feel like we don’t talk much because she forgets everything so

the illness has inhibited us from getting closer.”


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Dealing with a patient that suffers from alzheimer’s can be extremely challenging, frustrating for some and emotional depending on your relationship with the individual. Itrequires a great deal of patience and time. One rule for dealing with a patient withalzheimer’s is to refrain from ignoring them. Though at times their repetitive questions canbecome a nuisance, avoid shutting them out. It’s perfectly okay to interact with them eventhough they’ll soon forget again, you should try to treat them as if they’re another colleagueand not just a person with the illness. Try not to question them or quiz them about things in

hopes that they remember. Asking a variety of questions will only cause them more anxiety.Trying to make them remember everything longer only adds stress to their minds and is in noway beneficial to them. They have the disease and it will progress regardless of what is done

so in a sense this is only benefiting you. A part of you doesn’t want to let that person go so you take the extra measures to slow the progression, the quicker you accept it the better it is. Another way to deal is by going with the flow of what is being said. Patients with alzheimer’stend to have poor judgement about their surroundings, so if they insist on calling a tree, abuilding just go with the flow. By correcting them, it isn’t helping the situation but you couldalways try to see things in their perspective and make conversation from there. As it worsensthey will need to be under full care, as they’ll often misplace valuable things, wander aroundthe neighborhood, attempt to drive even when they’ve lost that ability to and eventually

unable to take care of themselves, physically.

• Alzheimer’s patients and need for attention• Alzheimer’s patients and repetitive questions• Misunderstandings of their surroundings and what goes on

Search Terms• Impact of alzheimer’s on the memory aspect of the brain (hippocampus)• Alzheimer patients inability to care for themselves• Alzheimer’s impact on cognition


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I V .

S e ar c h T

i m e s

S o ur

c e s

I m p a c t o f

A l z h e i m er ’ s o n t h e

h i p p o c a m p u s

1 . S c h u f f , N . , N . W o er n er ,L .B or e t a ,T .K or n f i e l d ,L .M . S h a w , J . Q .

T r o j a n o w s k i ,P .M .T h o m p s o n , C .R . J a c k , a n d M . W . W e i n er .

" MR I o f H i p p o c a m p a l V o l u m eL o s s i nE ar l yA l z h e i m er ' s D i s e a s e

i nR e l a t i o n t oA p oE G e n o t y p e a n d B i o m ar k er s ." Br a i n1 3 2 . 4

( 2 0 0 8 ) : 1 0 6 7 - 0 7 7 . W e b . 0 9 F e b .2 0 1 6 .

2 . S a m u e l , W . ,E .M a s l i a h ,L .R .H i l l , N .B u t t er s , a n d R .T er r y .

" H i p p o c a m p a l C o n n e c t i v i t y a n d A l z h e i m er ' s D e m e n t i a : E f f e c t s o f

S y n a p s eL o s s a n d T a n g l eF r e q u e n c y i n aT w o- c o m p o n e n t

M o d e l ." N e ur ol o

g y 4 4 .1 1 ( 1 9 9 4 ) : 2 0 8 1 . W e b . 0 9 F e b .2 0 1 6 .

A l z h e i m er ’ s

p a t i e n t s i n a b i l i t y t o

c ar e f or t h e m s e l v e s

1 .B ar n e s ,R .F . ,R a s k i n d ,M .A . , S c o t t ,M . a n d M ur p h y , C . ( 1 9 8 1 ) ,

P r o b l e m s o f F a m i l i e s C ar i n g f or A l z h e i m er P a t i e n t s : U s e o f a

S u p p or t Gr o u p . J o ur n a l o f t h eA m er i c a n G er i a t r i c s S o c i e t y ,2 9 :

8 0 – 8 5 . d o i : 1 0 .1 1 1 1 / j .1 5 3 2 - 5 4 1 5 .1 9 8 1 . t b 0 1 2 3 3 . x

A l z h e i m er ’ s i m p a c t

o n c o g n i t i o n

1 . W i l s o n ,R o b er t S . , a n d D a v i d A .B e n n e t t .“ C o g n i t i v eA c t i v i t y a n d

R i s k o f A l z h e i m er ' s D i s e a s e” . C ur r e n t Di r e c t i on

s i n

P s y c h ol o

gi c a l

S c i e n c e 1 2 . 3 ( 2 0 0 3 ) : 8 7 – 9 1 . W e b . . .


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Documents

Assignment one Re-purposed