St. Paul Elder Services (SPES), a community dedicated to enriching the life experience of the individuals they serve, is hosting a screening of a local documentary “Unconditional: A Journey of Selfless Love,” followed by a community question and answer session, at the Kaukauna High School auditorium, located at 1701 County Road CE in Kaukauna (map) on Monday, November 21 at 6 p.m. The film, produced by Appleton filmmaker, Riley Killian, centers around four northeast Wisconsin family caregivers whose loved ones have dementia and memory loss.
“I love film so much because it resonates. You can connect with people on a personal level,” said Killian.
“The role of a caregiver is vital in supporting individuals with memory loss, as they provide comfort, stability and assistance with daily tasks. It is a challenging role though because it requires not only physical care, but emotional and mental support as well,” explained Becky Reichelt, executive vice president at St. Paul Elder Services. “As a community that supports a full continuum of memory care, we are recognizing and honoring the role of these caregivers with screening of this documentary.”
The event at Kaukauna High School will also offer a timely perspective on the challenges and disruption that the holidays can bring for individuals with memory loss.
“We encourage families and caregivers to approach the holidays with patience and understanding, recognizing that what may seem like a joyous time for many can also bring stress and confusion for those with memory loss,” said Reichelt.
Following the showing of the documentary, specially trained staff from SPES will host a community question and answer session to offer additional education and resources for those in attendance.
The documentary screening is free, and registration is not required.
To learn more about St. Paul Elder Services, including its Passages program, a unique continuum of care and respite care for those living with memory loss symptoms and their caregivers, visit stpaulelders.org.
