I was very lucky to be able to talk to and photograph the clients @ Carers Choices Day Centre in Essex which is a valuable community resource offering companionship, stimulation, care and support to adults suffering with dementia and their families.
There are currently 800,000 people in the UK living with dementia, a condition which leads to progressive loss of brain function and this number is expected to approximately double over the next 20 years. (Professor David Oliver, Dementia Handbook for Carers, BHFT 2014)
There are many different types of dementia with differing associated symptoms. These can range from physical and behavioural changes to thinking problems including confusion and memory loss.
Memory is such an important aspect of my life as a photographer and something I wanted to focus on during this project. I feel that images I capture are moments in time which can bring back a flood of memories at a glance. My photographs of family life, activities, holidays and often seemingly insignificant moments are a lasting reminder of all that I have experienced, achieved and enjoyed and have made me who I am.
When meeting the clients, many of whom experience memory loss in some form, be it long term or short term; I thought about the impact of memory loss a great deal, not only for the clients but for the families around them. I questioned whether our memories define us; whether we remember truths or we remember things in a way which best influences our future selves.
With the support of families and staff I was able to spend time talking to clients before taking their portrait. Many found it difficult to recall much information about their past, but it is intriguing that of the decades of personal history which exist, often the same pieces of information would be repeated. This information, which stood out as most important to the client at that time, has been used to caption the image. The memory, that to a stranger such as myself, defines their most significant life experiences and creates an instant picture of who they are.
There are currently 800,000 people in the UK living with dementia, a condition which leads to progressive loss of brain function and this number is expected to approximately double over the next 20 years. (Professor David Oliver, Dementia Handbook for Carers, BHFT 2014)
There are many different types of dementia with differing associated symptoms. These can range from physical and behavioural changes to thinking problems including confusion and memory loss.
Memory is such an important aspect of my life as a photographer and something I wanted to focus on during this project. I feel that images I capture are moments in time which can bring back a flood of memories at a glance. My photographs of family life, activities, holidays and often seemingly insignificant moments are a lasting reminder of all that I have experienced, achieved and enjoyed and have made me who I am.
When meeting the clients, many of whom experience memory loss in some form, be it long term or short term; I thought about the impact of memory loss a great deal, not only for the clients but for the families around them. I questioned whether our memories define us; whether we remember truths or we remember things in a way which best influences our future selves.
With the support of families and staff I was able to spend time talking to clients before taking their portrait. Many found it difficult to recall much information about their past, but it is intriguing that of the decades of personal history which exist, often the same pieces of information would be repeated. This information, which stood out as most important to the client at that time, has been used to caption the image. The memory, that to a stranger such as myself, defines their most significant life experiences and creates an instant picture of who they are.