With support from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and CerebrotFit Integrated Brain Health, “My Mama Joe, Hope & Help” will show on the Island as part of an educational outreach. The one-hour documentary, streaming and broadcasting on PBS, features the journey of a family caring for their matriarch, who is living with dementia. The film is part of the Mama Joe Project, an initiative focused on supporting caregivers, promoting healthy aging, and improving outcomes for families navigating Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.
Dementia is an umbrella term describing a set of conditions often marked by a progressive decline in memory and thinking that interferes with daily or routine tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease, and the most common type of dementia.
The documentary film, produced by educator and creative Herb Caldwell, brings awareness to the growing issue of family caregiving and dementia by combining personal storytelling with best-practice guidance from experts in the field representing Harvard University, the CDC, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, AARP, Washington University in St. Louis, the Alzheimer’s Association, and more.
“We’re excited to bring the project to Martha’s Vineyard. Whether you’re vacationing, live on the Island, or just visiting, we want everyone better connected to information, resources, and networks that can improve health and quality of life, particularly as related to brain health and the dynamics of caregiving,” said Caldwell.
Free and open to all ages and audiences. The film will screen at 11 am on Tuesday, August 4, at the Strand Theatre in Oak Bluffs. Audience Q and A will follow with a panel of health and care experts including Dr. Nicole Absar of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital; Dr. Vonetta Dotson, a neuropsychologist in Atlanta, Ga., and Dr. Okey Enyia, a health policy strategist based in Washington, D.C. Registration is open now at mamajoeproject.com/oakbluffs.
For information, contact info@mamajoeproject.com or 618-615-7549.
