Aged care provider HammondCare is hosting special Q&A sessions following screenings of the new Australian movie, Everybody’s Oma, to try to promote a better understanding of the reality of supporting someone with dementia.
Everybody’s Oma follows the story of NSW Central Coast mother and grandmother, Hendrika van Genderen, who captured the world’s attention during the COVID-19 pandemic through family home videos that showed her living with dementia.
The film, which will have general release in cinemas from 11 August, has been selected for next month’s Melbourne International Film Festival.
HammondCare’s Dementia Support Australia (DSA) consultants will be at a national preview screening tour beginning in Burwood, 10km west of Sydney’s CBD, on Saturday, 30 July. Director/producer Jason van Genderen and wife Megan, who also appear in the film, will also take part in the Q&As.
DSA Head of Dementia Professional Services Marie Alford, who is participating in some of the Q&A Huddles, said the release of Everybody’s Oma was an extraordinary opportunity to connect with people who have questions about dementia.
“We expect there will be many who will be attending these preview screenings who can relate closely to Oma’s journey and how the van Genderen family responded,” she said.
“We’re here to support anyone who might want to know more about a disease that is impacting a growing number of families as Australia’s population ages.
DSA offers a nationwide 24/7 service, funded by the Australian Government, to improve quality of life for people living with dementia in residential aged care homes. In 2020-21, DSA consultants supported nearly 16,000 people.”
A great way of promoting how to support people living with dementia.