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As I write this column, I am reflecting on a powerful documentary I was privileged to watch before it went into wider circulation across our country. The documentary is titled Remember Me: Dementia in the African American Community.

Open Hand continues to provide nutrition to many individuals, including those who battle dementia, and their caregivers. We are honored and privileged to do so. As such, we are always seeking sensitivity training to help our staff to better understand how we can best support clients with memory loss.

Remember Me truly helps raise awareness and provide opportunities for people (not just African Americans) to see themselves and/or loved ones in the stories being shared. The film reduces the stigma of dementia in order to foster more candid conversations about something that is clearly at a crisis level. It is also very intentional in empowering people to advocate and seek resources for themselves and their loved ones. My own sweet mom battled dementia in the last few years of her life and so many of my friends and colleagues are serving as caregivers for family members who have dementia and/or Alzheimer’s. Caring for a loved one with dementia is an emotionally difficult journey and having both a support system and resources is vital. 

Studies indicate that nutrition can be beneficial for brain health. It is my hope that Open Hand will one day join forces with academia and research institutes to further study the positive impact that medically tailored meals have on delaying the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's.

Remember Me: Dementia in the African American Community is on tour across the country, and I will be working with my team to find a date when we can host a special viewing for our client referral partners and other constituents here at Open Hand. While this film stands on its own merits, I'm also proud to recommend it as our Senior Grants Manager, Tarai Kemp Brown, is the narrator of this film and her husband, C. Nathaniel Brown, is the writer and director. To keep up with the latest tour schedule you can click on the tour link at www.ExposeDementia.org.

For more info, here is a link to a media interview with C. Nathaniel Brown.