When most people imagine Alzheimer’s disease, often what comes to mind are severe, heartbreaking cases like the one portrayed in the popular 2004 romantic drama, “The Notebook.” However, that’s just a small part of what the disease can look like. Nobody would expect ordinary people to know that, but everybody would expect medical professionals to recognize symptoms of dementia and know how to respond.

Turns out, they don’t. That’s why earlier this year, the Massachusetts legislature unanimously passed an innovative new bill – a big part of which requires training for healthcare professionals to deal with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The first-of-its-kind law will be a multifaceted approach to the support of people suffering from Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Guests:

Dan Zotos - Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts and New Hampshire Chapter.

Judy Johanson - Advocate and board member for the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts and New Hampshire Chapter. She was also a caregiver for her late husband, Steve Johanson, who passed away due to early onset Alzheimer’s this past spring.

Mike Belleville - Advocate and former member of the National Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association. Mike is also currently living with Lewy Body disease, a common form of dementia.

Later in the show:

It makes sense that one of Lorraine O Grady’s recent exhibitions was entitled Speaking Out of Turn. For it was O’ Grady who staged a series of performance intrusions in New York galleries in 1980 with her seminal work “Mlle Bourgeoise Noire.” O’ Grady wore a debutante style gown made of 180 pairs of white gloves as she promenaded through the galleries whipping herself with long cat o nine tail reeds decorated with white chrysanthemums. She walked shouting, ‘’That’s enough...black art must take more risks!” From that moment on Lorraine O’Grady forged her risk taking career which includes writings, performances, collages and photos.

O’Grady is currently experiencing a resurgence of popularity and critical acclaim. In 2017 she received the Alumnae Achievement Award from Wellesley College and has a solo show now at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston entitled “Family Gained.”

Guest:

Lorraine O’Grady – Boston-born, New York-based conceptual and performance artist, 2014 recipient of the College Art Association's Distinguished Feminist Award, 2017 recipient of the Alumnae Achievement Award from Wellesley College.

Callie Crossley is a 2013 recipient of the Alumnae Achievement Award from Wellesley College and is a sitting member of the Wellesley Board of Trustees.