Caregivers, take advantage of this free event on Sunday, May 19. Don’t get to the point of total burnout. Give yourself the gift of one hour and let Michael Bloom help you de-stress, recharge, and reset with some practical tips. Michael will be taking calls and doing his best to help you start off the upcoming week on the right foot. Let him inspire you while giving both your energy level and your outlook a boost!
According to his website, one of Michael’s clients refers to him as “a warm chocolate chip cookie that offers the delight and perks of comfort food without the calories.” Who couldn’t use some of that!??
One of the misconceptions that disturbs me more than any other is the idea that Alzheimer’s patients are “gone” or are nothing more than a shell. Absolutely not true, which is what makes it so heartbreaking to see so many of these sweet human beings left alone to wither away…
The person before you may not be the the same as the one you knew BA (before Alzheimer’s), but there are very strong parts of that person present. They may be buried a little deeper, and you might have to work at reaching them, but the payoff is grand. Those who choose to walk away because it’s “difficult” or “unpleasant” are the ones who are missing out on some of the most poignant beautiful moments in life.
The power of this video cannot be described in words, you must experience it for yourself. Everyone with a connection to this disease should watch it, take it to heart, and remember it forever. They need us. They need love and human connection just like everyone else on this planet…maybe more.
It’s both wonderful and encouraging to know that two films featured at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival are helping to shine the spotlight on Alzheimer’s. This is the very sort of exposure we need to bring a critically important issue to the forefront, while giving it a human face and removing the stigma that comes with the disease.
The first, Pat XO, is a documentary produced by the great Robin Roberts. As I watched the trailer, I couldn’t help but smile. What an incredible idea to hand out video cameras to those closest to Pat Summitt and ask them to talk about this legend – the winningest coach in all of college basketball. I truly cannot wait to see this film! Coach Summitt is an inspiration in so many ways.
Also at Tribeca this year, the premiere of The Genius of Marian, a son’s intimate portrait of his mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s.
It’s remarkable film, not only for the obvious affection with which it was made, but as art. The downward trajectory of a woman in the grip of ever-worsening dementia provides only so many opportunities for visual storytelling. And while White and Fitch do have wonderful archival material to work with – their subject, Pam White, was a model, and the footage of her as a young woman sparkles in its poignancy. But for a great deal of the film, White is creating something out of imagery that occurs with a seeming randomness, but which ultimately coheres in a way that’s quite moving and singular: As well it should. Pam White isn’t a medical statistic, she’s a person with a history, albeit one that’s slipping away, at least from her.
Three cheers for Robin Roberts and ESPN, filmmaker Banker White, and of course the Tribeca Film Festival for bringing much needed attention to our fight.
Caregivers, take advantage of this free event on Sunday, May 19. Don’t get to the point of total burnout. Give yourself the gift of one hour and let Michael Bloom help you de-stress, recharge, and reset with some practical tips. Michael will be taking calls and doing his best to help you start off the upcoming week on the right foot. Let him inspire you while giving both your energy level and your outlook a boost!
The Long and Winding Road... 