Wei (Lost in Memories)

Lost in Memories is a documentary by Ruud Lenssen in which he captures his parents’ dementia and informal caregiving journey. Father Jac has created his own little paradise: an acre of natural land with horses, chickens and vegetable garden. The meadow is his life’s work and Jac is determined to continue to care for it. Especially now that he has been diagnosed with dementia. Nature and his animals give Jac comfort and direction in an increasingly confusing existence.

Mother Ria watches Jac’s decline with sorrow. Her care for her husband grows and she must give up more and more of her own life. Her feelings of love and caring regularly turn to frustration and loneliness. Despite this, she wants to care for Jac at home for as long as she can. But as Jac tries to cling to his paradise, an inevitable goodbye draws closer.

Lost in Memories is not only a film about dementia and informal care, but also a loving story about the transience of life.

Impact

In making Lost in Memories, the goal was to ensure that the hidden suffering of people with dementia as well as family caregivers became visible and discussable. That mission succeeded. Over a million people around the world saw Lost in Memories at filmfestivals, in cinemas, during social screenings, in outdoor cinemas, in a village tour or on TV. Lost in Memories has now also been included in various educational programs and it has even been made into a theater performance. With this, we hope to contribute a little bit to a dementia-friendly society.