"Broken Memories" Highlights Caregivers Role in Alzheimer's Care

"Broken Memories" Highlights Caregivers Role in Alzheimer's Care

Several of the Right at Home offices in the Los Angeles area partnered together to sponsor the Red Carpet premiere of "Broken Memories" at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. The film centers around the relationship between a son and his father afflicted with Alzheimer’s. When a caregiver comes into their home to provide assistance, the path of all 3 lives are forever changed. Right at Home representatives were honored to attend the event and meet the stars of the movie, including Ivan Sergei and Kelly Greyson, as well as meet members of the Howard family, Ron Howard and daughter Bryce Dallas, both of whom were there in support of Rance Howard, who portrayed a man with Alzheimer’s. Proceeds from the event went to Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles

Renee and Joe Concialdi, owners of Right at Home Pasadena, brought two caregivers and guests to the star-studded event. "It is a realistic depiction of the effects of Alzheimer's” Renee says. “So many face this disease and it impacts those around them both significantly.

“Rance Howard did a great and realistic job in his role depicting Alzheimer's. He was natural and heartwarming. The movie truly demonstrates the impacts and challenges the person affected by it faces and those who love them and working hard to help them."

While Lisa and Tim Jeffers, owners of Right at Home Inland Valley, were unable to attend, they were proud to be one of the sponsoring offices. They have been long-time supporters of the fight against Alzheimer's. They assisted his grandparents who both passed due to the disease. Caring for them and facing the difficulties of being family caregivers, were the impetus for them to quit their jobs and follow their passion to help others through Right at Home. This passion also fueled their fundraising and community outreach efforts as Lisa was an Alzheimer's Walk Chair for 2 years, and Terry emceed the Walk. Lisa is also a Dementia Caregiver Support Group facilitator.

Lourdes Simon, owner of Right at Home San Fernando Valley, also attended the premiere. "It was a pleasure to sponsor this event to raise funds to help increase awareness of Alzheimer's, commented Simons. "Broken Memories" is not only about Alzheimer's but also about how families that struggle with their loved ones (that they) are not alone in their journey."

Doug Dickstein, owner of Right at Home Glendale brought one of the caregivers from his team, Maria Castro to the premiere. After her experience at the event, she was able to relate her experience as a caregiver in what she saw in the movie.

Shortly after Maria became a CNA, Certified Nurse Assistant, in August of 2012 she was hired by Right at Home as an in-home care aide. Little did she know the personal as well as professional journey the job would create for her. In the five years she has worked with Right at Home, Maria has cared for over 30 different clients throughout Los Angeles, always going into their homes at first a stranger but quickly establishing herself as trusted aide and valuable part of their life. From cases that involved helping a woman recover from hip replacement surgery, to assisting a gentleman with bathing and dressing every morning to helping a son alleviate the stress in caring for his father with a tendency to hoard, Maria has experienced many different environments. But few cases touch her as deeply, or bring out her passion more, than caring for someone afflicted with Alzheimer’s.

While Maria came to the event as an opportunity for a night out with her children and to get their picture on the red carpet, she wasn’t quite prepared for the emotional connection she’d have with the film upon viewing it.

“I know those scenes,” Maria said after the watching the movie. “I’ve been with people who do the same things. I know how it is to care for someone going through that.”

Maria was visibly moved by Rance Howard’s portrayal of a 79-year-old man going through the progressive stages of Alzheimer’s while his son and caregiver do everything in their power to allow him to stay at home. Maria has been in that same situation on numerous occasions, but without cameras and make-up people and directors mapping out her every move; without the press; without red carpet premieres or public accolades. Yet for 5 years Maria has worked as one of Right at Home finest and most requested care aides and shows remarkable compassion and skill when dealing with those battling Alzheimer’s.

“It was a good movie,” Maria reflected, “but I didn’t know it would affect me so much.”

As the evening began to wind down, Maria had to say her good-byes before the conclusion of the film’s afterparty. She needed to get her 2 daughters who had accompanied her home so they – as well as herself – could get some sleep. They had school the next day and Maria had to go back to work helping providing a care for another senior in our community.

As the Right at Home team wrapped its support of “Broken Memories,” Maria and the others who attended - some who lived as far away as Yucaipa and Rancho Cucamonga, including Andy Cohen and his wife from the Right at Home Rancho Cucamonga office - know the work they do as caregivers helps families along their own path of broken memories.