I really can't recall the last time I cried looking at a photo.
But the second I saw this incredible photo essay, tears welled. My kids were around me and I had to go to another room to concentrate on what I was seeing. It was beautiful. And poignant. And painful. And raw and very, very real.
These photos are in today's Sydney Morning Herald (go and get a copy while you can - the accompanying full story is so well done) and they are shot by the incredibly talented Janie Barrett. Who is also my friend. She is the most humble, hugely talented photog around.
Below are a selection of photos (reproduced with permission by Janie; please click on link below for the entire video documentation of these pics), and they are breathtaking. More from Janie - and Daisy Dumas, the writer who beautifully documented this very important story - is below. First, watch the video interviews here. They will make you cry. These beautiful people are close to the hardships of seeing a loved one with dementia, every single day. Click to see all the breathtaking photos here and the video interviews.
The accompanying story is titled 'Nameless intruder steals loved ones', and in it, it describes how for 'families from cultures that may not even have a word for dementia, the disease takes a heavy toll.'
Daisy details how more than 45,000 people from non-English speaking backgrounds in Sydney are living with a dementia diagnosis. I'll let that figure sink in for a minute. Add to that: every week 1700 new cases of dementia are diagnosed in Australia.
The support provided by Alzheimer's Australia is just incredible. From the melting pot of 40 separate communities Alzheimer's Australia work with, to the dedicated link workers they provide, Daisy does a beautiful job of depicting what it's like for people caring for loved ones with dementia, especially in ethnic communities. It can be a completely different beast in each cultural community, and I know this first-hand dealing with my mother's care, and being from an Italian background.
Read the full story here.
Here are some more photos from the collection:
Khana Dawod, who has Alzheimer's disease, in a nursing home in Western Sydney, believes the doll is a real baby. Photo: Janie Barrett
Kathy and Frank Deskar in their western Sydney home. Kathy suffers from Alzheimer's disease and is cared for by her husband. Photo: Janie Barrett
Sarah Odisho with her mother, Khana Dawod. Photo: Janie Barrett.
Nam Hut Hoy, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, celebrates her 90th birthday with family and friends in her western Sydney home. Photo: Janie Barrett
To read more, click here.
But the second I saw this incredible photo essay, tears welled. My kids were around me and I had to go to another room to concentrate on what I was seeing. It was beautiful. And poignant. And painful. And raw and very, very real.
These photos are in today's Sydney Morning Herald (go and get a copy while you can - the accompanying full story is so well done) and they are shot by the incredibly talented Janie Barrett. Who is also my friend. She is the most humble, hugely talented photog around.
Below are a selection of photos (reproduced with permission by Janie; please click on link below for the entire video documentation of these pics), and they are breathtaking. More from Janie - and Daisy Dumas, the writer who beautifully documented this very important story - is below. First, watch the video interviews here. They will make you cry. These beautiful people are close to the hardships of seeing a loved one with dementia, every single day. Click to see all the breathtaking photos here and the video interviews.
The accompanying story is titled 'Nameless intruder steals loved ones', and in it, it describes how for 'families from cultures that may not even have a word for dementia, the disease takes a heavy toll.'
Daisy details how more than 45,000 people from non-English speaking backgrounds in Sydney are living with a dementia diagnosis. I'll let that figure sink in for a minute. Add to that: every week 1700 new cases of dementia are diagnosed in Australia.
The support provided by Alzheimer's Australia is just incredible. From the melting pot of 40 separate communities Alzheimer's Australia work with, to the dedicated link workers they provide, Daisy does a beautiful job of depicting what it's like for people caring for loved ones with dementia, especially in ethnic communities. It can be a completely different beast in each cultural community, and I know this first-hand dealing with my mother's care, and being from an Italian background.
Read the full story here.
Here are some more photos from the collection:
Khana Dawod, who has Alzheimer's disease, in a nursing home in Western Sydney, believes the doll is a real baby. Photo: Janie Barrett
Nam Hut Hoy, who has Alzherimer's disease, becomes a handful for daughter Seam Heang Sam. Photo: Janie Barrett.
Kathy and Frank Deskar in their western Sydney home. Kathy suffers from Alzheimer's disease and is cared for by her husband. Photo: Janie Barrett
Sarah Odisho cares for her mother, Khana Dawod in her Western Sydney home. Photo: Janie Barrett.
Sarah Odisho with her mother, Khana Dawod. Photo: Janie Barrett.
Nam Hut Hoy, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, celebrates her 90th birthday with family and friends in her western Sydney home. Photo: Janie Barrett
To read more, click here.
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