Tuesday, June 14, 2020
As I have stated many times, one of my goals in writing My Journey with Sumi is to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. I can extend that to say a film is worth a million words.
This week, I came across a deeply honest and moving film about the joys and struggles of caregiving. It is a look inside the day-to-day lives of three southeastern Michigan caregivers as they embrace the roles and responsibilities of caring for an aging parent.
After watching the film, one thing became obvious: taking care of loved ones, because of duty or obligation, can only go so far. I realized that for all three caregivers, it is their love, compassion, patience, and, above all, inner calling that keeps them doing what they do.
The three people shown in the film with Alzheimer’s are in the early stages, whereas Sumi is in the late stage of the disease and needs round-the-clock assistance with daily activities. Sumi has lost the awareness of recent experiences as well as her surroundings and is not able to communicate her needs, discomfort, and pain.
Over the last few months at Wayne State University’s caregivers meetings, I was lucky enough to meet Roger—who is taking care of his mother in the movie. For me, this was an emotional film and I had to reach for the tissue box.
Please watch it when you have a quiet 25 minutes: