Hope in Action is an 18-minute video highlighting a research study conducted by nursing professor Wendy Duggleby and sociology researcher Liz Quinlan.

The video, to be shown for the first time at 1:15 p.m. today at the Delta Hotel in Regina, will be used by Alzheimer’s support group leaders throughout Saskatchewan who will receive training in the use of it from Duggleby and Quinlan.

In the film, family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease discuss what hope means to them and how participatory theatre fostered their hope. The film is aimed at fostering greater public understanding about the challenges faced by caregivers, as well as showing caregivers how others have hope, says Duggleby.

“Hope is about possibilities, so looking at different ways that you may deal with your family member with Alzheimer’s will make you aware of possibilities,” she said. “Despair occurs in isolation, so connecting with others helps to foster hope.”

The video is the second produced through the College of Nursing’s “Living With Hope” research program (http://www.usask.ca/nursing/research/livingwithhope) aimed at support family caregivers. The first film features discussions of hope by people with advanced cancer and their families.

Quinlan believes audiences will find the latest documentary a unique viewing experience.

“This research is the first of its kind to use participatory theatre as a way to showcase challenges of hope and how to foster hope,” she said.

“It is also the first film that focuses on the hope of family caregivers of persons with dementia. The other films that have been produced focus on the experience of family caregivers, but not on hope.”

The documentary was produced in partnership with the Alzheimer Society, the Saskatoon Council on Aging, and the U of S Educational Media Access and Production unit. The research was funded by the Alzheimer Society and the U of S President’s SSHRC Fund.

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For more information, please contact:

Wendy Duggleby
College of Nursing
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 220-0296 (cell)
wendy.duggleby@usask.ca

Cam Zimmer
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
cam.zimmer@usask.ca