More than 5 million Americans develop Alzheimer’s, but the number of people affected–family, friends, caregivers–is even greater. November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month; the perfect time to recognize all those affected.
The Genius of Marian, broadcast on POV in 2014, can help raise awareness around the important issue of caregiving. Providing an intimate family portrait that explores the heartbreak of Alzheimer’s disease, the power of art and the meaning of family, The Genius of Marian follows Pam White in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease as her son documents her struggle to hang on to a sense of self.
Borrow this film from our DVD Lending Library or visit the film’s Partner Toolkit to access a discussion guide and lesson plan to help get the conversation started.
The Genius of Caring, created by the filmmakers of The Genius of Marian, is a web-based interactive story-sharing project that features documentary portraits of those lives touched by Alzheimer’s and other caregiving-intensive diseases. The site also allows users to contribute to a story archive called the Care Gallery. The project offers a uniquely intimate glimpse into the caregiving experience and creates community connected through compassion.
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that, “In 2014, friends and family of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias provided an estimated 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care.” The isolation of caregiving can be one of the hardest elements for caregivers. The Genius of Caring is designed to support caregivers and to provide students, healthcare professionals and others with a glimpse into the caregiving experience.
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