A website documenting a man's response, and that
of his daughter, to Alzheimer's disease and death.
This project has two distinct areas of subject matter – Alzheimer’s disease and death.
Body began in November 2001 when I became aware that Dad had Alzheimer’s disease. It was at that point that I began videotaping him to document this disease of the mind as it evidenced itself.
Mind began in January 2002 just as Dad successfully finished a six-week highly intensive rehabilitation of his broken hip – a process that many health-care professionals warned an Alzheimer’s patient could not complete adequately. During those final days of Rehab, the nurses commented that Dad’s "eating like a horse" had changed to "eating like a bird." Despite attempts to get Dad to eat more, his appetite remained small. Moreover, he commented to caregivers, once he moved into the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s care facility, that he wanted to die.
Spirit
began in June 2002 to encourage community involvement. Using
subject matter central to this website, I solicited contributions from
many
individuals (including residents of Alzheimer's facilities and hospices)
as
well as those viewing this website.
Dad had willingly participated in many of my previous art projects. However, at each photographing or taping session for these projects, I asked him if it was okay to record him for the purposes of an art project. I would repeat the question numerous times until I received an answer. I wanted to ensure that Dad knew, understood, and agreed with my art-oriented objective. Some days Dad did not answer; based on the effects of Alzheimer’s, I believe he could not answer. On the days that he did, he always said "yes."
Dad’s Advanced Directives written some years before indicated that he wanted no life sustaining procedures. He wanted medications administered and procedures performed only to provide him with comfort care. To meet those desires, Hospice began February 6. Dad died peacefully February 28.
Acknowledgments:
Particular appreciation goes to Michael Goodman, my partner and Deb Voss, Social Worker with Visiting Nurses Association of Wisconsin,
I also appreciate the individual efforts and personal energy given to my Dad by the various caregivers and medical staff from 1998 to present.
Thanks
also to:
Website Technology: Cathy Buckingham of Definitive
Web Designs, Metamora, IL
Graphic Arts Direction: Peg Esposito of Peg, Inc., Lake Geneva, WI
Video Edit: Jeff Pulera of Digital Video Productions, Racine, WI
Video Streaming: Audeiovideoweb.com
