My day with Alzheimer's--new photos added

[boxofrocks]

Yesterday I did some work for an Alzheimer's patient care facility in the Dallas area. I"m going back this morning, but was so touched by what I witnessed yesterday, I wanted to share some of the images with you.

I put a few of them up in a gallery which can be found below. Here's a preview:



It was an honor and a pleasure to work along side of both the patients and the caregivers. Most of the patients themselves were wonderful--think I made some new girlfriends!

If you'd like to see a small selection of photos from the center, please check out the gallery here. I appreciate comments, but remember, none of these were posed, and they were all shot in very poor natural light. This was my first time working with subjects like this, so feedback is welcome.

Thanks

[ndsimm]

can't see the image here, but the ones on the Gallery speak volumes. the BW really adds to it in my opinion. Looks like you caught a range of emotions as well.

[Davidtxs]

awesome stuff Tom

[jagphoto]

Those were incredible. I agree about the BW, there is no other way IMHO to show those photos. The one of the boy feeding his grandmother?? brought tears to my eyes.

[ZONE]

Great b&w images ! You really did a nice job!

[Comanche]

Tom - -

Ouch and Wow and the same time. My mother is in such a facility now, but I have never worked up the courage to use my camera there.

My very sincere compliments!

[JPalmer]

Wonderful stuff Tom, I think you did a commendable and very professional job. Any of those would make a fantastic photo essay for a newspaper, although I know that was probably not your intention.

[lscottpht]

Ok, I'm not seeing them. What gallery are they in? I went to your home page, and I didn't see them. I'm sure I just missed them somehow. I do love the shot I see here, though.

[Tapper]

Originally Posted by Comanche

Tom - -

Ouch and Wow and the same time. My mother is in such a facility now, but I have never worked up the courage to use my camera there.

My very sincere compliments!

Same here. Nothing about that place or experience I care to memorialize. For me, it's a place of almost overwhelming pain.

Very powerful pictures Tom, too powerful for some of us I guess.

My Mother, Jean Davis, was once an amazing woman. A beauty contest winner, phi beta kappa, accomplished pianist, school teacher, community leader. She had a keen and incisive mind, a great deal of wit, was prone to laughter, and had an unmistakable personal presence. She commanded a room. She also had dignity, and grace, and civility. And she was a great mother as well.

Now, for 18 hours a day, she sits unmoving in a small chair and stares with unseeing eyes. Every 30 minutes or so, a nurse pauses to wipe the drool fom her chin. She is unable to speak, and hasn't reconized me, or anyone else in my family in several years.

That emotion you see in the Alzheimer ward? It is the variously disguised face of abject horror. The smiles frozen on peoples faces, the nervous banter, hide our urgent desire to flee.

[zepp]

I'm always very careful taking photos of Alzheimer's patients. Getting permission from one of their family members or guardians first. I make sure I let my intentions be known to a responsible party as to what usage I intend them for, web included.

I lost my mother-in-law to the disease a little over two years ago. My wife walks in the Alzheimer's walk each and every year to help raise awareness of the disease. Each year I go out and and capture a moment during the event and run it in the weekly I shoot for to help inform the public.

I always ask before photographing a patient and have been turned down numerous times by a caretaker. We usually run an image of a local person volunteering time at the event to help raise awareness.

Please be courteous and do the same, getting permission first from a responsible party, if you find yourself in this photographic situation. I know a lot of family members of the patient might object to photographing their love ones and publication of the images without their consent.

Just a thought to keep in mind...

EDIT: Oh...and speaking of having a new girlfriend, the same thing happened to me. Every time we went to see my mother-in-law at the home a patient followed me around and flirted with me like crazy. She was so sweet and love my attention in return.

[Roy]

Very well done Tom!

[bburton]

Originally Posted by Tapper

Same here. Nothing about that place or experience I care to memorialize. For me, it's a place of almost overwhelming pain.

Very powerful pictures Tom, too powerful for some of us I guess.

My Mother, Jean Davis, was once an amazing woman. A beauty contest winner, phi beta kappa, accomplished pianist, school teacher, community leader. She had a keen and incisive mind, a great deal of wit, was prone to laughter, and had an unmistakable personal presence. She commanded a room. She also had dignity, and grace, and civility. And she was a great mother as well.

Now, for 18 hours a day, she sits unmoving in a small chair and stares with unseeing eyes. Every 30 minutes or so, a nurse pauses to wipe the drool fom her chin. She is unable to speak, and hasn't reconized me, or anyone else in my family in several years.

That emotion you see in the Alzheimer ward? It is the variously disguised face of abject horror. The smiles frozen on peoples faces, the nervous banter, hide our urgent desire to flee.

Moving pictures, Tom, and very moving words, Brian.

[laurielblack]

These pictures are just so emotive...they're a little hard for me to deal with on a personal level because my mother is suffering from this horrible disease and it just kills me to see her slowly fading away. Thank you for sharing them though, and I am sure that the pictures will be treasured by family members and caregivers.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by zepp

I'm always very careful taking photos of Alzheimer's patients. Getting permission from one of their family members or guardians first. I make sure I let my intentions be known to a responsible party as to what usage I intend them for, web included.

I lost my mother-in-law to the disease a little over two years ago. My wife walks in the Alzheimer's walk each and every year to help raise awareness of the disease. Each year I go out and and capture a moment during the event and run it in the weekly I shoot for to help inform the public.

I always ask before photographing a patient and have been turned down numerous times by a caretaker. We usually run an image of a local person volunteering time at the event to help raise awareness.

Please be courteous and do the same, getting permission first from a responsible party, if you find yourself in this photographic situation. I know a lot of family members of the patient might object to photographing their love ones and publication of the images without their consent.

Just a thought to keep in mind...

EDIT: Oh...and speaking of having a new girlfriend, the same thing happened to me. Every time we went to see my mother-in-law at the home a patient followed me around and flirted with me like crazy. She was so sweet and love my attention in return.

Just as as fyi, we have photo releases from the families of all that were photographed. Good point.

[zepp]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Just as as fyi, we have photo releases from the families of all that were photographed. Good point.

My previous post was not directed toward you nor do I think you took it to be. Seeing your post only motivated me to remind others to be respectful not only to the ones suffering this disease but also to their families.