‘Alzheimer’s Project’ discussion, screening set

James River Senior Center and South Central Human Services: Aging Services Division Hosts a Special Screening and Discussion of HBO’s The Alzheimer’s Project.

James River Senior Services will host a special screening and discussion of HBO’s “The Alzheimer’s Project” as part of a national discussion to encourage individuals to learn more about the disease and the research being done, as well as to gain a greater understanding of the issues surrounding it.

The four programs on June 1, 15, 22 and 29 at 1 p.m. begin with a special screening from the HBO documentary series, followed by a discussion led by The Department of Human Services; Aging Service Division staff . The event is free and open to the public at Center One, 502 10th Ave. S.E., Jamestown.

“The Alzheimer’s Project” is HBO’s 4-part, multi-platform series that brings new understanding and hope for millions and reveals human faces behind the disease. This documentary series shines a spotlight on the lives of individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families, and takes a close look at the groundbreaking discoveries made by the country’s leading scientists as they work toward a cure.

Four films each explore a different facet of Alzheimer’s:

The Memory Loss Tapes: This 90-minute vérité documentary captures the experience of memory loss from the point of view of the person with the disease. Bringing viewers into the quiet world of seven patients living with Alzheimer’s, each in an advancing state of dementia and ranging across the full spectrum of the disease, the film bears witness to what it’s like to slowly lose one’s mind.

Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am (With Maria Shriver): Geared toward children and young teens coping with a grandparent’s illness, this film presents vignettes that can help a child understand and deal with a relative’s gradual decline into Alzheimer’s. Maria Shriver, whose father was diagnosed with the disease, provides commentary and guidance through five insightful lessons.

Momentum in Science, Parts 1 & 2 Two years in the making, Momentum In Science details the current explosion of knowledge within the scientific and medical communities – from imaging the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s, to understanding the roles that genetics and lifestyle might play, to the tremendous progress being made in the effort to develop drugs to treat or even prevent the disease.

Caregivers: A collection of five family portraits that illustrate caring for those in different stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Each highlights the sacrifices, struggles, and successes made by those experiencing their loved ones’ descent into dementia.

The purpose of the screening event is to encourage further discussion about Alzheimer’s research and care in communities across America. HBO has invited The Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services and James River Senior Center, along with many other national organizations, to host these screening events to help conduct conversations about Alzheimer’s and better understand the disease.

Alzheimer’s is the second most-feared illness in America behind cancer, and may affect as many as five million Americans. As Baby Boomers reach retirement, that number could soar to more than 11 million by 2040, and have a huge economic impact on America’s already fragile healthcare system.

“The Alzheimer’s Project” was created by the award-winning team behind HBO’s acclaimed “Addiction” project and is presented by HBO Documentary Films in association with the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, The Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund and Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer’s Initiative. The series is Produced by John Hoffman and executive produced by Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver.

Tags: human service, life, health, alzheimers