The See Me Project with Jennifer Fink
About Your Loved One with Dementia
We share images and stories to honor and highlight your loved one. Our missions are to honor your loved one and teach the world about dementia-including caregiving. Our vision is to see a more understanding, compassionate and kind world for those impacted by dementia. Your stories help others to understand.
This is one image from the 2013 Christmas session Jennifer did with her parents. Her father continued this tradition until 2016 when he ended up on hospice.
Tell us something special about your loved one
Mom was a caregiver at heart. From raising us girls, to helping Dad with the family business and volunteering in the community, Mom was someone you could count on. Mom was very creative and tried many creative hobbies in her adult life. She decorated cakes for our birthdays, did oil painting, sewing and eventually, woodworking.
Age of diagnosis or if not officially diagnosed, when the dementia became evident.*
Became evident at 59, diagnosed at 69
What 1-2 things do you want people to know about living with Alzheimer’s Disease or other form of dementia?
For many living with the disease, the progression is slow. Don’t assume they can’t participate in their regular activities. They can, they may just need a few simple accommodations plus it’s important to help them stay active and involved as long as possible. When they do reach the later stages, it’s important to continue to engage with them. They may not be able to hold a conversation or remember your specific relationship but they will enjoy hearing a different, kind voice. If you can give them a few moments of joy you’ve done more than you realize. 
What has been the most challenging part of your Alzheimer’s/Dementia journey?
Getting help. To me this is a bigger issue than research. While we need to find ways to prevent the disease, we need to find ways to support caregivers NOW. Society at large needs to understand the economic toll caregiving takes on everyone, not just the affected family. As the population ages, it’s going to become a bigger and bigger problem that caregivers will not be able to continue in their jobs because there’s no good help solutions.
What has been the best part of your Alzheimer’s/Dementia journey?
Starting a podcast to help other caregivers share their knowledge and still learning new things! My Mom would have loved this endeavor.
What else would you like us to know?
Mom loved dogs, had them most of her life.
Jennifer Fink was a guest on Our video podcast- Experts Dig in with Doggies for Dementia. It’s definitely worth the listen. Jennifer is a professional photographer, family caregiver. Early in her journey as a caregiver for her mother, she saw a BIG need for information and support for families. She created and hosts a wonderful podcast Fading Memories Podcast. 
