A husband fails to recognise his wife, his primary caregiver. He has dementia.
A 23-minute film on dementia shows a woman’s journey from despair to hope and despair again — a reality in many homes where family members attend to those living with dementia.
Muhurto (Moment), the film focuses on family members who are primary caregivers and tries to reaffirm a belief in them that all is not lost when a dear one has dementia.
The moment they step out of a doctor’s chamber after diagnosis, family members often start to give up.
The film emphasises the role of primary caregivers who have to come to terms with the person’s condition instead of giving up on them.
Muhurto (Moment), by Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Society of India, Calcutta chapter, which was made last year has been released for public viewing through a YouTube link this September, the month for awareness of Alzheimer’s worldwide.
“Our focus is on family caregivers, to uplift their spirit and reaffirm their belief that a lot is left in the person living with dementia and that they should not give up,” said Nilanjana Maulik, secretary, Alzheimer’s And Related Disorders Society of India, Calcutta Chapter.
Alzheimer’s is one of the most common forms of dementia, Maulik said.
The overwhelming feeling for the family members when a person is diagnosed with dementia is that they will have to be taken care lifelong, said Maulik.
“The moment they leave the doctor’s chamber they start to give up. But we have to counsel and train the caregivers as to how they can bring up moments that would define joy,” said Maulik.
The film revolves around good and bad moments in the life of a person with dementia.
In the film Maulik, who plays herself, addresses the wife and tells her that as a caregiver her journey is long and there will be hurdles on the way.
“So keeping oneself well remains an absolute necessity.... Our perception of the person would define how he is perceived by others. If his family stands by him others would do the same,” she tells the wife in the film.
The film lists a few things that one should avoid doing as a caregiver so as not to irritate the person, not to contradict him and interrupt him.
“If a person living with dementia is in a positive, fun-loving environment, he stays well....”
“Those living with dementia live every moment. They cannot remember their past as dementia progresses and the future is not possible...so they live in the moment. People living with dementia teach you that great lesson in lifethat living in the moment is the best gift one canhave,” said Maulik in the film.
The film depicts how families behave with those living with dementia.