Posts Tagged ‘What’s Happening to Grandpa?’

An Alzheimer’s Family Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, at The Birches Assisted Living, 215 55th St., Clarendon Hills. Part 4 of the HBO series titled “The Alzheimer’s Project” will be shown and discussed.

Titled “Grampa, Do You Know Who I am?” with Maria Shriver, directed and produced by Eamon Harrington and John Watkin; based on the book “What’s Happening to Grandpa?” by Maria Shriver.

This film tells five stories of children, ages 6-15, who are coping with grandfathers or grandmothers suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Maria Shriver provides commentary and delivers valuable “lessons” for the kids, urging them not to blame themselves for what their grandparents do or say. “We are all children of Alzheimer’s,” says Shriver, making it clear that “if it’s too painful to visit, you don’t have to go.”

Shriver’s own father, Sargent Shriver, suffers from the disease; comparing his earlier vitality to his present condition is hard, but it is offset by good memories and an unexpected “gift”: bonds between generations that may not have been made otherwise.

Ultimately, the film offers a variety of perspectives on how kids can handle a grandparent’s loss of memory through kindness, patience and compassion.

HBO’s “The Alzheimer’s Project” takes a look at the faces behind the disease and the efforts to find a cure. The multi-platform series reveals groundbreaking Alzheimer discoveries and the effects this debilitating and fatal disease has on those with Alzheimer’s and their families.

A support group will follow, led by Jackie Raschke, director of Encore and Dementia Services at The Birches, who received specialized training in support group leadership from the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Participants give and receive support with others who are sharing similar situations in their caregiving experiences,” Raschke said. ”Here, in a confidential environment, participants can discuss their concerns.”

More than 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to grow to more than 15 million by the middle of the 21st century. No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there’s no one approach to caregiving. Responsibilities can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning. Handling these duties is hard work. But by learning skills, a caregiver can make certain the loved one feels supported and is living as full a life as possible. A caregiver also needs to preserve well-being for her or himself.

The public is invited to attend this free program, space permitting, and registration is required. Call Jackie Raschke at 630-570-6175 or visit http://www.birches.net.