November 10, 2006

Award-winning Alzheimer's film premieres at the MGH

A film devoted to patients and families adjusting to a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease — created by the MGH Geriatric Medicine Unit — has won a number of prestigious health education awards, including a Health Information Award, a Remi Award and an International Health and Medical Media Award, also known as a FREDDIE. The film, "Family Matters: Coming Together for Alzheimer's," will be premiered at the MGH during a special program Nov. 16, beginning at 5:30 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium.

"Family Matters" is divided into four parts and introduces newly diagnosed patients and their families to the world of Alzheimer's disease. The film suggests that there are ways families can cope with the disease and that Alzheimer's need not be a paralyzing experience by highlighting four different families who share their experiences. Barbara Moscowitz, LICSW, of the Geriatric Medicine Unit, is the executive producer of the film. "This film specifically was created to meet the needs of patients in the early stages of the disease, as many of the books, pamphlets and films already available focus on the individual in the end phases of the illness " she says. "It's time for our community to address the challenge of caregiving and to begin an important dialogue. We're honored to host this program devoted to family caregivers."

The premiere will include a presentation "What Does It Mean to Care?" by Ellen Goodman, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Boston Globe, and a discussion moderated by Kasey Kaufman, Emmy Award-winning reporter for CBS4 News. For more information about the event, call (617) 724-7324 or visit ww.massgeneral.org/familymatters.