Screenings for the silver generation

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Screenings for the silver generation

By PARINYAPORN PAJEE 
THE NATION

 

 

Chulalongkorn Hospital's cognitive fitness centre stimulates older brainds with a regular movie programme

 

BANGKOK: -- TWO YEARS AGO, when Chulalongkorn Hospital’s Cognitive Fitness Centre launched its movie screenings for the elderly, a small conference room was more than adequate to comfortably host the 60 or so participants who turned out for the monthly shows.

 

Thanks to better dissemination of information among Thailand’s greying population and increased concerns about dementia and Alzheimer’s, the screenings are now held in a much larger room to accommodate the hundreds of spectators who make a point of coming along. 

 

The films, just one of several activities run by the centre to stimulate the brain and keep dementia and emotional problems at bay, are carefully selected, covering issues to which the elderly can relate, such as disease, family relationships and moving on after a loved one dies. 

 

Discussion sessions take place after the screening led by moderators and guests and the talks are lively and always interesting. 

 

The idea for the movies came from Khunying Chamnongsri Hanchanlash, who was approached by the centre’s head Dr Sookjaroen Tangwongchai when it opened in 2015. The centre was already offering singing and dancing classes as well as brain-training games and wanted an activity that would instruct as well as entertain. 

 

 

Now 88, the well-known writer and philanthropist came up with the movie idea immediately after seeing the conference room. Having grown up in England, she says that films and the theatre greatly influenced the way her brain developed and would certainly benefit the elderly.

 

“Unlike in other medical fields, a psychiatrist must be interested in social science, such as reading, watching movies or TV dramas and keeping up with world through the social media. That help us understand our fellow human beings and the patient’s context when we have to diagnose symptoms,” says Dr Sookjaroen.

 

He adds that a movie, when properly selected, is a life lesson in brief and inspires people to think about something that relates to their personal experience.

 

Although he is quick to admit that he was not a cinema fan as a youngster, Dr Sookjaroen now loves the movies and even applied for the well-known three-month Film Appreciation course operated by the country’s film critics to learn more about the silver screen.

 

The Thai Film Archive’s deputy director Sanchai Chotirosseranee is also lending a helping hand and the three experts work closely together in choosing the movies and running the discussions.

 

The activity, says Dr Sookjaroen, helps seniors to exercise their brains, get out of the house, and to interact with others.

 

“The movies make them think and we choose films that have a conclusion rather than an open-ending. It would be great if the movies make them happy too. We certainly don’t want to have sad thoughts or be traumatised,” he says.

 

This is especially important for those who have suffered in life. While they might well be over whatever traumatised them, a movie could remind them of that earlier pain. 

 

And even though many older people love to see their favourite movies from the past, the centre tries to select current films. 

 

“We want them to catch up with the present so that they can understand what others are thinking and doing,” says Dr Sookjaroen.

 

The project started with “The Theory of Everything”, the drama that relates the early life of renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking before he fell victim to the paralysing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Other films that have been shown include the award-winning Japanese film about death “Departures”, Zhang Yimou’s “The Road Home” and “We Bought a Zoo” – a movie about a man who tries to start over by buying a zoo after losing his wife.

 

The project has also been forced to adapt with the move from a compact conference room to a large lecture room as the elderly like to bring their offspring and friends along with them for the show.

 

The wider audience does not, however, affect the choice of movie, with care taken to stick to topics in which the elderly are interested

“The response to ‘Still Alice’ was overwhelming and drew lots of questions about Alzheimer’s disease,” says Sanchai. 

 

“Still Alice” centres on a linguistics professor and how her world, as well as her bonds with her family, begin to change when she is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

 

Dr Sookjaroen says that the film is a good example of films suitable for the project, as the medical information is correct and it doesn’t over-dramatise the story.

 

The discussion session that follows provides a space for seniors to learn more about the disease, particularly the aspects of interest to them. 

 

“It’s not something that can be covered in a doctor’s appointment. This is a platform that allows sharing of information and ideas with others,” Sanchai says.

 

Many other institutions and hospitals are now interested is launching similar initiatives but Dr Sookjaroen warns that organising such an endeavour is about far more than choosing a movie and screening it for local seniors. 

 

“Every community has different backgrounds and interests. It is useless to force people who don’t enjoy watching movies to come along,” says Sookjaroen.

 

Khunying Chamnongsri adds that the organiser should sit down with its group of seniors and find it if they want to watch films and if so, the kind of films they like. 

 

“It should start with a simple and entertaining movie that has enough content to stimulate a discussion after the screening,” says Khunying Chamnongsri.

 

The session also needs a doctor or staff member able to understand the film and lead the talk.

 

And some sort of pre-screening or research is essential to ensure that the content doesn’t upset or offend. 

 

“We learned a lesson when we showed ‘The Bridges of Madison County because the story involves an adulterous relationship. Some of our seniors walked out because they found it immoral. The reaction taught us that we need to prepare the audience first by giving some details of what is covered in the film,” says Khunying Chamnongsri.

 

And while some might wonder why the elderly can’t just watch the movies at home, Dr Sookjaroen stresses the importance of using the movie screening as a two-way communication through talks both before and after showing the film.

 

“Watching movie alone at home or at the cinema doesn’t help the brain develop,” he says.

 

“More than 90 per cent of my dementia patients stay home and watch TV all day long. For them the small screen is company not entertainment,” he says.

 

Joining the regular movie screenings and talks not only helps enrich older brains but gives them a life outside the home. Interaction with others helps stem loneliness and promotes enjoyment of life.

 

The project has recently published “Phabphayon Ya Bumroong Phoo Soong Ayu” (“A Film is Supplementary Medicine for the Elderly”) and a DVD of the talks following the first 10 movies to help institutions and communities interested in organising a similar activity.

 

STIMULATION SUPPLEMENTS

 

- The screenings are held monthly or bi-monthly. Admission is free.

- For more information and updates on the next films being shown, check out Facebook.com/cognitive fitness center.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/lifestyle/30322355

 

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