Hats off to Mary Baum, Nancy Crowley, and the team at Concord Park for their terrific PhotoVoice project! I attended the open on Thursday November 29, and it was very impressive. We had previously blogged about this project (see our post from October 31). The emotional power of the images and the descriptions reveal a lesson we always emphasize to the families of our clients and to our caregivers when we conduct training: although reasoning and language ability may decline, the emotional experience of people with dementia remains vivid. This is why it is so important to “meet them where they are.” Absent safety concerns, the immediate facts are irrelevant, but the emotional life of the person are real.
"It looks like a trough, so they won't escape. We used to have rubber ducks in the tub. The colors make it, and you can see one has a patch over his eye. The image makes me think of my childhood. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and she liked things just so. I have fond memories of her and she lived to a good age. My aunt lived with her and she liked to cook and take care of people.
I came across a picture of my mother today. I don't have many memories of her. She died when I was six. That's why I spent so much time with my grandmother - my father had his hands full.".
-- Mary, Concord Park resident
I was especially struck by the photo and caption I have included in this post. The decline in language is evident. But look at the memories and emotions revealed in the caption that this woman dictated as she gazed at the photo! Most often, people surrounding her are probably unaware of the deep associations that everyday objects may bring to her mind. Those memories and emotions not doubt remain unarticulated unless she is lucky enough to have people like the staff at Concord Park and the PhotoVoice project, but they are nonetheless meaningful and deeply-rooted. This project is a reminder that with conscious effort, we can share memories and experiences with our clients and families that are rewarding on their own terms, just as they are today. Thank you, Mary and Nancy, for opening this window into the lives of these residents, and for the obvious contribution this program is making in their lives.
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