The documentary ‘Grandpa, do you know who I am?’ presents a chilling effect of Alzheimer’s on families, most especially families and close relatives. More particularly, the disease takes a toll on children who love their grandparents but do not understand what is happening when they forget important details such as their names (Harrington & Watkin, 2011). This paper will evaluate the effects of Alzheimer’s on Sarah’s grandmother, regarding aspects such as communication difficulties, independence, and safety.
Prior to Sarah’s grandmother being diagnosed, she enjoyed life in every respect. However, the situation changed when she discovered she was suffering from Alzheimer’s. The very fact that she would lose a large majority of her memories and may even forget the names of those closest to her, scared her, her family, and especially, Sarah. At a relatively advanced age, Sarah’s grandmother has difficulty conversing with others (Harrington & Watkin, 2011). As Sarah indicates, she easily changes topics irrespective of the issue under discussion. In this regard, if one is discussing something or asks her a question, she talks about something completely different from that which is under discussion.
A fairly independent person, Alzheimer’s has created a devastating realization for Sarah’s grandmother. In this case, she cannot do the things she previously did before she was diagnosed with the illness. As such, this has taken a toll on her as well as her family, as they have to ensure she is kept company at all times.
With regards to safety, since Alzheimer’s involves memory loss, one might forget important details such as the way back home. This aspect raises their susceptibility to safeguard their security and thus requires close supervision (Harrington & Watkin, 2011). This reflects exactly what Sarah’s grandmother is going through, as Sarah needs to accompany her to every place she needs to go, even the bathroom, for the sake of her safety.
Reference
Harrington, E. (Producer) & Watkin, J. (Director). (2011). Grandpa, do you know who I am? [Motion Picture]. United Sates. HBO.
