I would rather walk with a friend in the dark,
than alone in the light. --Helen Keller
How Strong Friendships Defy Dementia
--by Marcus
Harrison Green, syndicated from Yes
Magazine, Jan 17, 2016
Alice
Padilla’s laugh cut through the air at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. Fresh off an
hour-long exhibit tour, she and 16 other friends sat in the zoo cafeteria,
snacking on sugar cookies and mocking current bestsellers. The group could
appear to be just another cluster of friends visiting the zoo. But they were
there for another purpose, too: to provide joy as much as support. Part of a
program called Momentia, more than half of the people in the group have
dementia.
The
day was, in effect, an act of defiance for the 63-year-old Padilla, who was
diagnosed with dementia two years ago. By living wholly in the present, Padilla
is fighting a disease that threatens to rob her of her memory.
The
zoo trip was just one of a series of Seattle-area group activities, from strum
and drum bands and rap performances to cafe talks and public policy advocacy,
organized for Momentia members. Marigrace Becker, the program manager for the
University of Washington Medicine Memory and Brain Wellness Center, co-founded
Momentia three years ago to challenge the misconceptions typically associated
with dementia.
According
to the Alzheimer’s Association, by 2050, the number of people age 65 and older
with Alzheimer’s disease may nearly triple, from 5.1 million today to a
projected 13.8 million. The estimate makes Momentia an imperative for Becker.
She spent years volunteering with dementia support groups and, after
brainstorming words that rhymed with the condition, came up with “Momentia” to
capture the idea of celebrating life in the moment. Becker wanted more than a
social service; she wanted empowerment.
“I
was envisioning it more like the Occupy movement, [which] galvanizes people and
energizes them to have a voice, to build dementia-friendly communities in their
own ways,” she said.
While
there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s, studies suggest strong social ties
can help ward off the diseases’ advance.
That
was the goal of another event on a balmy Sunday in September, when more than 100
people with dementia and their families gathered in West Seattle for Camp
Momentia. Becker said the annual event recognizes the “staying power” of those
touched by the disease.
Padilla
was among them. She joined in drumming and square dancing and then capped off
the day with a group rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Her petite
frame marched around the large circle of singing campers as they laughed at her
impersonation of a Mardi Gras drum major.
"I
am not sad or angry,” she said later. “I don’t have any of that because those
things are easy to be if you have Alzheimer’s. When you have these kind of
people who watch out for each other, you can enjoy your life.”
And
with that, her laugh rose through the air once more.
This
article is shared here with permission from YES! Magazine, a national, nonprofit
media organization that fuses powerful ideas with practical actions. The author,
Liz Pleasant, wrote this article for YES! Magazine. Liz is an assistant web
editor at YES!
Be The Change:
In the spirit of friendship, be
present with someone who is walking in the dark today.
For inspiration here's a beautiful
short film about a woman who used music and a compassionate heart to break down
the barriers of separation surrounding a patient with
Alzheimers.
