Update on dementia friendly movies

MrToad

I previously posted about the successful pilot program here in little Saline MI called a Friendly Day at the Movies. It’s for persons living with dementia, their caregivers, family and friends. We show classic movies (Singing In The Rain, Mamma Mia, Easter Parade) with soft light and sound and no hard rules—we encourage folks to talk, clap, tap feet, sing along, get up and dance. And they do all that. To this basic dementia friendly offering, we add free popcorn, soda and fingerfood, door prizes, goody bags, a literature table, costume contests, pre-show singalongs and an occasional flash mob. We’re planning on adding subsidized transportation to help folks who are not themselves driving get to the theatre for what is really a party where we show a movie. 

And now, folks can enjoy going to the movies in this way, without fear of difficulty or embarrassment, at five theatres in three states that we know of. With our corporate partner Emagine Entertainment, we have expanded to several other properties in Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and we have discussions ongoing with theatres and chains in Ohio, Minnesota, Utah and Nevada.

We have a free “How To” manual available for free for anyone wanting to organize such an effort. We also have a free, illustrated ”What To Expect At A Friendly Day at the Movies” booklet to show and describe what the theatre and the layout look like and how the event plays out (e.g. we have a special welcome table for tickets and programs, and goody bags), and how volunteers will help and escort our guests every step of the way. We want to help folks overcome any hesitation they may have about what is sort of a new thing, but really a restoration of being able to go to the movies and have a good time.

And, oh, our movie program recently won a sizable ($$$) national award for Innovation In Caregiving from the Family Caregiver Alliance out of San Francisco.

We invite anyone who is doing something similar in your community to let us know. Let’s compare notes. Or contact us to get info on how to start such an effort. Go to Dementia Friendly Saline, dfsaline.org. We’re not selling anything, just hoping to proliferate a good idea that is making a difference in the quality of life on the journey for about 85 people every month in our town of 9000 souls.

SSHarkey

I am so impressed! May it spread like wildfire!

brs

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/68497/update-on-dementia-friendly-movies

This is a wonderful idea !

harshedbuzz

@MrToad

That's a terrific idea. I love it. At dad's MCF, they featured an afternoon matinee and movie-themed snacks with similar titles each afternoon after lunch. It was quite popular.

They've been doing similar movie and museum events for people with autism and sensory issues for years. Soft lighting, lowered volume, and the suspension of behavioral expectations. TBH, it sounds like they ripped off our playbook. Just kidding. In the autism community, What to Expect at A Friendly Day at the Movies would be just another Carol Gray Social Story.

HB

MrToad

Yes, harshedbuzz, you're right. The dementia friendly movie is indeed sort of a variant of the well-established sensory friendly programs, and our What To Expect booklet is very definitely meant as the analog of a Social Story.

As noted, we in Saline have chosen sort of a "De luxe" approach---door prizes, goody bags et al, but the essential "soft light and sound and no hard rules" would be pretty easy to do in thousands of theatres nationwide. It is so great to see so many persons living with dementia, and so many caregivers, enjoying themselves, enjoying being with other people on the journey, and enjoying being out in public, so that everyone can see them as the persons deserving welcome and respect that they are.

Ed1937

Toad, you've peaked my interest. I've sent an email to Chelsea to ask for whatever information you have to share. I don't want to promise anything, but we'll see. Thanks again for what you do.