My Dad passed away a year ago. He was 86 years old and battled Alzheimer's for a number of years. His death anniversary is coming up and I wanted to dedicate a post to him.
Shooting this project was not easy. It was hard for me to shoot, especially knowing that I didn't have that much time with him. I would visit him almost every month for a couple of days. He was living in San Diego and I was coming from New York.
During these visits, I decided to work on a Grant Proposal from the Bob & Diane Fund. Trying to find a balance with photographing and with just spending time with my dad was hard. There were a lot of times I decided not to shoot, it was hard picking up the camera and trying to capture what my father was going through. I was not awarded the grant but I wanted a place to share my father's story.
For this post I decided to include parts of my grant proposal and the images I submitted.
Grant Proposal for The Bob and Diane Fund
My father, Eduardo Genato, has Alzheimer’s. He is 85 years old and has been dealing with Alzheimer’s for much of the latter part of his life. His current condition is certainly not promising. His mobility is limited due to his osteoporosis and lack of strength. He is currently receiving hospice care at home. He requires assistance with every aspect of his life: eating, bathing, using the bathroom, etc. Carrying a conversation with him is almost impossible; his communication is limited to a few one-word answers. He seems trapped in a state of confusion and cannot find the words to express what he feels and needs. I want to convey his and my family’s story through my photography. I hope to use the resources and connections of the Bob & Diane Foundation to share our story with a larger audience and to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s.
I am a photographer and I have been practicing my craft for almost 16 years. I have an associate’s degree in photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I currently work as a freelance photographer in New York, concentrating mostly on wedding photography. I was inspired to undergo this project from Bob and Diane Martin’s story. I see my parents in them, their devotion and love is strong and it keeps my family together.
My goal with this project is to capture what life is like for someone towards the end stage of Alzheimer’s. The struggle and the hardship that someone goes through with this disease is so devastating for themselves and for everyone around them. I have a unique opportunity to do that and I have a perspective and access that most people do not have. Although it may at times be difficult to shoot, I feel that my father would want his struggle documented. My mother, Lydia Genato, has not left his side and is as much a part of my father’s story as he is. Without her, I am not sure how my father would survive. Anyone with Alzheimer’s needs someone like her by his or her side; I couldn’t imagine a person going through this disease without an advocate.
The grant has inspired and motivated me to photograph and document my father’s struggle. This grant would help me tremendously in completing this project but I still plan on documenting my father’s story with or without the grant prize. I hope that these photos would reach a wide audience and raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. My father’s story is much like others, his situation is not unique but it is devastating. More people should be aware of the impact this illness has.
These images were taken after the grant proposal deadline.
