Social Documentary.Net / July 2018
Living with Alzheimers
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After working on a personal project of my fathers battle with Alzheimer's disease I have finally taken the plunge to get this incredible personal series of images out there to a wider audience. The Social Documentary.Net is a fantastic website that features work of documentary photographers from across the globe, of which I admire immensely, so I decided to submit my essay to their admissions panel for scrutiny.
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I am pleased to say that my photo essay was accepted and is now duly published for viewing on their website. So here it is......
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https://socialdocumentary.net/exhibit/Ed_Badley/4365
https://socialdocumentary.net/photographer/edbadley
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Project Abstract:
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As a nation ages, health care providers are working to minimize risks of chronic illness and debilitation. Blood pressure and cholesterol control, cancer screening, and exercise are interventions patients expect to hear about. However, other less-recognised health risks also need attention. Loneliness and social isolation are common among the elderly and lead to declining health and poor quality of life.
This series concentrates on Tony, a once fit and active octogenarian, who has declined over recent years with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. His loving wife and family visit him in the care home where he now lives and enjoy the anecdotal stories and recollections of Tony talking about his early life experiences, a regression that is common in the disease, as it ultimately takes hold and the short-term memory becomes non-existent.
Tony had physical prowess in his early 80’s before his diagnosis, and these images document the unfortunate but predictable decline that is caused by this particular unforgiving and cruel disease.
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