An Alzheimer Documentary Film : A Memory between my Mother and I

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease, a form of brain degeneration, is an incurable condition where current treatments only delay the progression of symptoms, allowing patients more time to care for themselves before inevitably becoming dependent. Caring for Alzheimer's patients is crucial. In addition, at present there are still few documentaries about dementia that can be viewed, causing the general public to still have the perception that dementia is just general forgetfulness. And through the researcher’s personal experience with a mother who suffered from Alzheimer's disease from 2006 to 2016 at the age of 57, the researcher has gained valuable insights. This first-hand experience not only enhanced his understanding but also fueled his desire to share this knowledge with doctor, nurse, caregivers and the wider public. The paper titled “Memories of My Mother and I Toward an Alzheimer's Documentary Film” aims to achieve several objectives through a creative research approach: 1) to illustrate the progression of Alzheimer's disease using a documentary film, 2) to capture the researcher's memories of living with an Alzheimer's patient within the film, and 3) to assess the documentary's portrayal of these experiences using qualitative research methods. The researcher reviewed pertinent literature and engaged in discussions with those close to the researcher’s mother to gather memories for the documentary script. Subsequently, a 20-minute short documentary film was created, complemented by newly filmed content that adheres to a structured storyline. The film was evaluated by 12 experts in documentary filmmaking and dementia care. The findings according to first objective indicate that the documentary successfully conveyed an understanding of Alzheimer's disease changes through the personal story of the researcher’s mother, reflecting broader societal experiences. The findings, according to the second objective, reveal that the film effectively captured the researcher's memories with his mother, showing the child’s perspective through authentic photographs and footage, which depict the extended journey faced by caregivers and Alzheimer's patients. The findings, according to third objective, show that the evaluation of the documentary revealed its effectiveness in portraying these stories and enhancing understanding of the disease's impact beyond mere forgetfulness, offering valuable insights to audiences, including caregivers. However, the documentary short film could benefit from further improvements, suggesting a need for more skill and experience in short film production.