River Falls hosts a dementia-friendly primer in three acts
A crowd at the River Falls Public Library last month watched Isabel Epstein slip from the past to the present and back again. Alongside her, a son and daughter were caught in the difficult ebb and flow of Alzheimer’s disease. While Isabel is a fictional character, her experiences in the one-act play “Riding the Waves” gave an honest depiction of how reality fluctuates for those with dementia and their caregivers.
It was the second installment of three plays in The Remember Project, designed to help River Falls and its surrounding communities become dementia friendly. The St. Croix Valley Foundation (SCVF) launched the pilot locally with the help of The Lutheran Home Campus and River Falls Area Hospital.
Free and open to the public, each play was followed by a facilitated discussion. The three plays in River Falls drew an audience of nearly 80 people.
“It’s been so exciting to see all the wonderful conversation going on following these plays. The goal behind having these community conversations is people will be able to organize what’s needed to make this community dementia friendly,” said Gary Kelsey, a professor at St. Mary’s University and member of The Remember Project Committee.
A dementia-friendly community demonstrates a high level of public awareness and understanding of dementia and helps individuals with a diagnosis navigate easily and safely, remaining engaged in their usual activities. It also means businesses learn to interact with people with dementia in ways that provide help and preserve their dignity.
“That’s what The Remember Project is really all about, being dementia friendly,” said Rev. Curt Seefeldt, director of church relations for The Lutheran Home Association, the parent organization for The Lutheran Home Campus.
The Remember Project stemmed from a book of three one-act plays titled “The Memory Care Plays” compiled and edited by Margaret A. Noel and from the recognition that art is a powerful tool for inviting meaningful conversation. A professional cast produces each work, which consists of a sparse stage allowing for an intimate look into the characters’ lives.
Minnesota actress Heidi Fellner portrays one of those characters; she also has a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
“This process of all these plays has taught me I need to hear (my grandma) differently. We’re not in the same old relationship anymore,” Fellner said.
“You learn to pick your battles very carefully. How essential is it that you tell this person their reality is wrong?” said Nancy Abrahamson, a dementia care specialist with Aging and Disability Resource Center of St. Croix County.
In most cases, simply listening and following along is better, Abrahamson said. Rita Roth, who resides at Wellhaven Senior Living in River Falls, couldn’t agree more.
“We want to have somebody who wants to hear what we have to say. I encourage my children to ask questions because once we’re gone, so are all the stories we have to tell,” Roth said.