Can Love and Loss Be Captured on Film? Kimberley Littlemore on Documenting Her Parents’ Dementia

Episode Summary: Most families don’t fully understand dementia until it affects their own loved ones. For award-winning documentary filmmaker Kimberley Littlemore, that moment came when both her parents were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Realising how little she knew about dementia—and how few films captured the lived experience—she turned the cameras on her parents’ journey, creating a powerful series that blends personal stories with expert insights.   In this conversation, Kimberley opens about her parents’ diagnosis, what she learned as both a daughter and a filmmaker, and why films based on lived experience are so vital in raising awareness and reducing stigma around dementia. She also reflects on her work with the BBC, her contribution to a new book on dementia and sensory changes and offers advice on which mediums—film or documentary—might create the biggest impact in regions like Africa where dementia is still widely misunderstood.   Main Points Discussed Kimberley’s journey from filmmaker to daughter documenting her own parents’ Alzheimer’s diagnosis and lived experience.   The importance of sensory and perceptual changes in dementia, and her contribution to A New Approach to Dementia.   A candid discussion on the impact of films vs. documentaries in creating dementia awareness in Sub-Saharan Africa.   Key Takeaways Lived experience matters — Films showing real family journeys can raise awareness and break stigma in ways textbooks and statistics cannot.   Dementia isn’t just memory loss — Sensory changes and behavioural symptoms are often overlooked but deeply affect daily life.   Storytelling is powerful — Whether through documentaries or feature films, visual storytelling helps families, caregivers, and communities better understand dementia.   Resources Mentioned Visit https://pocketmedic.org/dementia to watch Kimberley’s parents’ raw, real-life dementia journey unfold on film. Still Alice (Drama-Film) A New Approach to Dementia: Examining Sensory and Perceptual Impairment Slipping Away: One Man`s Battle with Alzheimer’s` Disease