I Remember Better When I Paint is an inspiring documentary about reaching out to men and women living with Alzheimer’s through the art and craft of painting, drawing and museum visits.
My mother died of Alzheimer’s in 2004. One of the most powerful memories I have of the last two years of her life is an afternoon we spent together coloring in line drawings of flower arrangements with crayons. My mother loved flowers, she loved gardening, she loved nature. And although she had entirely lost her ability to have a conversation with me, she retained the desire to communicate, chattering away in a language of repeated words and phrases with tremendous enthusiasm and energy, trying to connect, trying to be heard, trying to maintain contact.
But when I put a crayon in her hands and directed her attention to a coloring book, she became focused, concentrated and precise, coloring in the leaves with green, the stalks with brown, the flower blossoms with vibrant color…the flower centers often with black! The look on her face was one of joy and childlike satisfaction. She was calm and energized all at the same time.
There is no one who can tell me, as so many are told of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, that “there was no one in there any more.” My mother could be reached through art and music, and I know that these therapies could help so many others, if more people simply knew about their power and had access to information and training.
I Remember Better When I Paint, which was directed by Eric Ellena and Berna Huebner (in France and the United States) is narrated by Olivia de Havilland (yes that Oliva de Havilland…of Gone With the Wind, The Heiress and Hush…Hush Sweet Charlotte).
Although the movie came out in 2009, it is being shown in New York on PBS today at 2:30 (I know, I know it’s the Super Bowl)…but then again in the New York Tri-State area on Monday, February 6 at 10:00 pm, Saturday, February 11 at 5:00pm on channel WLIW21 and Friday, February 17 at 10:00pm on channel NJTV.
If you can’t see it, log onto the film’s website to learn more about art therapy and how it might help someone you know who is living with any form of cognitive dementia or memory loss. You’ll be glad you did.
Thank you for reading, as always…
Giselle
February 5, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Thank you! That is so true. The Alzheimer’s patient is in there. I see my mother-in-law trapped in a body controlled by the growing prions, and yet that smile still breaks through. I really appreciate the link.
February 5, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Bill Collins She IS in there. I think we just have to go in there with them. I have experienced that smile. I know exactly what you mean! I’m so glad this spoke to you.
February 5, 2012 at 6:42 pm
My Dad is dealing with dementia/Alzheimers right now. While I agree that there are different things that still spark some memories or some of their old “self”, that diminishes over time. My Dad’s disease has progressed to the point that he no longer focuses on ANYTHING let alone being able to paint or draw. The one thing where I can still get a smile is with a joke, but that is becoming more rare.
February 5, 2012 at 6:45 pm
There is that moment that comes Daniel Bobke when a person such as your Dad, my Mom, simply go beyond. The men and women in this documentary are not there yet. I feel for you. I have been there. It is a very tough thing to witness. Rarely have I felt more helpless in my life.
February 5, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Daniel Bobke That sounds like he’s in Stage VII. My condolences. It’s very hard to reach people when it has progressed that much. Giselle Minoli I do agree with that. I wish we could go in there with them better.
February 5, 2012 at 6:56 pm
It is so profoundly confounding to watch someones “life tape” being erased day-by-day. Sometimes I think there but for the grace of God go all of us. Should it ever be my own destiny, I do hope that people remember I love music and art and poetry and words. I do hope, whether I’m reachable or not, people don’t just assume I’m not in there somewhere. I don’t know, in the absence of a cure, what is the solution for this rotten, mean-spirited, vicious contagion of a scourge. Compassion helps….
February 5, 2012 at 11:00 pm
There is nothing that can be done Giselle Minoli – at least not now. All you can do is do the best you can to make them comfortable and content.
I am going to turn something you said earlier around. Never have I felt more in the hands of God than at this time with my Dad. There is no earthly help for it – I depend on God solely for this journey with my Dad.
February 5, 2012 at 11:12 pm
I am reminded of what I felt was a very irresponsible article in “Reader’s Digest” a couple of months back that suggested that you can somehow stave off or prevent Alzheimer’s by staying physically active or do mental exercises like puzzles and crosswords. This is a degenerative disease that currently doesn’t have any prevention nor any cure. That article was upsetting because it implied that people who have Alzheimer’s somehow didn’t do enough to prevent it from happening to them.
February 5, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Trying to type this on my cell. +Daniel Bobke did someone write that art therapies stave off or prevent this disease? I missed that…
February 5, 2012 at 11:28 pm
There was nothing specific about art therapies Giselle Minoli. The article was entitled “Protect Yourself from Alzheimer’s Disease” – as if it is preventable.
February 5, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Ah…apologies…my dreaded BBerry. I think it is cruel to suggest someone could have done something. Science is scrambling. All anyone can do is soothe someone who has it the best they can. But, confession, Daniel I do think about my diet, exercise, envvironmental factors…every day, because I think we are clueless. Absolutely clueless.
February 5, 2012 at 11:39 pm
I certainly have no problem extolling the virtues of a good diet and exercise – there are plenty of known benefits of those things. But it is irresponsible to suggest that there is any connection to Alzheimer’s when no connection has been proven.
February 6, 2012 at 12:28 am
There are connections between heart health and brain health. There are connections between diabetes/high blood sugar and Alzheimer’s. We shouldn’t dismiss our own instincts about self care in the absence of scientific proof. Waiting for science is like Waiting for Godot. Oliver Sacks used to be considered a pipe dreamer. Sometimes science has to play catch up to basic instinct.
February 6, 2012 at 12:29 am
I could make a comment about how I wish the country was full of rational thinkers and the media was run more like Walter Cronkite or Rather or someone with journalistic integrity was delivering the new. Actually, I think I will. The only significant affect one can have on Alzheimers (to the best of my knowledge) is that ceasing smoking may lower your risk. If you’re already a smoker.
February 6, 2012 at 12:39 am
There are connections between heart health and brain health. There are connections between diabetes/high blood sugar and Alzheimer’s. We shouldn’t dismiss our own instincts about self care in the absence of scientific proof. Waiting for science is like Waiting for Godot. Oliver Sacks used to be considered a pipe dreamer. Sometimes science has to play catch up to basic instinct.
February 6, 2012 at 12:41 am
Ceasing smoking, controlling sugar intake, having a healthy heart…but people should do these things anyway…
February 6, 2012 at 4:34 am
Jessica Turner I am not a scientist, nor am I a medical doctor. But I have done quite a bit of my own research and reading on Alzheimer’s and deep in my bones I feel something is wrong with our “self-care.” People are making correlations between what used to be known as “senility” and “Alzheimer’s.” But they are NOT the same. This thing we are seeing now is not the same as the occasional “batty” neighbor or relative I once knew. I have “read” that Alzheimer’s is on the rise because people are living so much longer. I do not think that is true. When I was a child people lived much longer and healthier and productive lives than now. My mother died when she was 90. I know people who have been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at 55.
Something is up and I don’t know what it is. But in the meantime, while we are waiting for science to figure it out, I’m going to use my own feminine intuition about self-care, some of which is diet, some of which is exercise, some of which is spiritual and creative…to make my life…and my husband’s life…work as well as it can. I don’t like the idea of being or behaving like a sitting duck.
February 7, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Thank you Shawn Rossi Torrid Luna Ron Battjes Amy Sundberg Emma Grammer +Lupe Larranaga Kyle Smith Ralf Hoffmann Ron Samul Lud Marx Katy Davies Andrea Cioni Ellie Kennard Gregory Esau Kena Herod Dan McManus Diana Studer Tom Moncho Brian Kemper Lew Bloch for +1’ing this post…and Andrea Cioni Chris Polli Jessy Luna Lynette Young Renee Decator Stacie Florer and Rose Lamatt for sharing it…and Jessy Luna , Daniel Bobke Bill Collins for commenting.
I have always felt that each of us, if not directly affected by the tragedy of Alzhiemer’s within our own families, knows someone somewhere who is affected. It is a long, painful, exasperating and financially difficult road for everyone involved and my heart goes out to each of you. Thank you very much for reading….
February 7, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Giselle Minoli – you put your finger on it perfectly. It is a heart rending experience.