The Long Goodbye: our new advertising campaign

[sdmhred]

Just watched this one. I liked it. i Liked the fact it was not emotive, but factual. You could make something like this slightly harder hitting by adding some of the statistics in and showing pics of late stage.

im guessing the researchers have shown that emotion works …but my concern about v emotive adverts is that people will not be able to cope with the thought of it so just bury and deny the issue…..whereas something more factual about the financial side may provoke action 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

 

[Fugs]

I have just found a quiet moment to watch this by my self. Very glad that I didn't watch it with my wife. I understand many of the comments in this thread about the advert not covering all of the challenging aspects of dementia but IMHO I think that the advert is very powerful. It resonated with a lot that I am going through with my wife, even if specific details are different. I was sobbing before half way! 😭
I am pondering whether to post a link to the many invisibles in our families. (Not our 2 boys, they are wonderful)

 

[Alzheimer's Society]

Can I ask? Reading the quote from the CEO is suggestive that the advert is about raising awareness rather than fundraising? Is that correct? If so I will think about it from a different perspective.

Thanks.

Thank you for your question @sdmhred. You're correct, the primary focus of the advert is to raise awareness of the fact that dementia is the UK's biggest cause of death rather than to fundraise for Alzheimer's Society. The team behind the advert are looking to improve public understanding and awareness as a whole and based the advert on the experiences of real people affected by dementia, choosing not to include details of how to donate in the advert for this reason.

Although the advert won't reflect everyone's experience, we hope that it will reflect the serious and devastating nature of dementia for those who may not have the awareness of those directly affected.

 

[Alzheimer's Society]

Thank you all for your feedback.
As a reminder, please keep this thread for feedback (positive or negative) about the Alzheimer's Society advert "The Long Goodbye". This is so that your feedback can be passed on to the team behind the advert and inform future campaigns.

 

[jennifer1967]

Thank you all for your feedback.
As a reminder, please keep this thread for feedback (positive or negative) about the Alzheimer's Society advert "The Long Goodbye". This is so that your feedback can be passed on to the team behind the advert and inform future campaigns.

just mention or talk about other dementia would be the way forward. my husband asked the difference last night when he saw the advert between alzheimers and vascular that he knows he has. it would be a bit more inclusive

 

[Chizz]

Yes, as a carer, the advert is tough. I have experienced and I am experiencing the death by a thousand cuts of my OH of 57 years as she has lost skills, interests, abilities, memories, etc.
I think the advert is good. It needs to be tough, but it also shows the person as she was before the disease.
If one person finds it helpful, informative, or makes them more aware then it will have succeeded.

 

[sdmhred]

I’m curious …..so I have posted the advert on my FB and see what it comes back with from my FB friends.

I have added a dementia trigger warning which I think the advert does need

 

[Wanda C]

I think the advert is awful, so do a lot of other people . Its not good for the carers but especially for those who have this awful dsease..
My husband is 63 has Alzhimers/vascular dementia.. he has watched this advert serveral times and said its awful and upsetting for him as well to watch. Whoever thort this advert up was not thinking about those with dementia watching it, and who are still ok at the moment...

 

[juliemellers]

It's a really tough watch I totally understand the message you want to get across but the reality of having someone suffering from dementia sat watching it is very difficult .

 

[Pat2592]

I found this ad tremendously upsetting as a carer at the early end of my husband’s diagnosis. My husband now knows what life may be like for him and I’ll be so upset when I lose him. So many ads on ITV3 I find upsetting as they seem geared to the elderly, but we love the old programmes. There are only so many times you can put the kettle on, go to the toilet as the ads are so frequent.

Can’t there be a warning before the ad please as I do understand that people need to be aware of how devastating this illness is?

 

[sea shanty]

I am not sure tbh, I am not happy with 'died' for each stage. Dying means a complete end - but the various stages, which vary from person to person and last differing amounts of time from person to person are not the same as dying, they are in many ways worse because you don't know what to expect, family can't plan or move on, as they could after a funeral. The ad also feels like the journey from mild cognitive deterioration to death is fairly swift, yet it often isn't, and no one can tell you how long. Every visit to the home or care home of person with dementia is filled with a slight dread about what changes will have taken place or what mood they will be in, as others have said, there can still be laughs, but sometimes angry outbursts too.

In our case the paid carers did not do the hours they were tasked with, they left soiled sheets on the floor and blocked the loo with wipes, so we could not relax as we were anxious about the care until a nursing home was found.

I didn't know how bad things could be until I was part of it, filling the gaps. This ad doesn't prepare anyone for that, it feels focussed on the narrator and their relationship, not on the disease and why much more help and insight is needed, and what help Alzheimers provide and hope to help with going forwards.

Paramedics are some of the most expert, as they will tell you, so many of their call outs are to elderly and those living with dementia. I can't fault them, as they told my DH, they are the new social services....
And the nurses in the nursing home are so patient and completely understand how to behave and interact, and give some of the best advice to family we have received.

Interesting chat today on Bridging the Gap about SibStar banking app for people with dementia (likely early stages of dementia) which I understand Alzheimers gave help and advice and a small grant to. It came about when the CEO was dealing with dementia care for her own parents and realised there needed to be a half way between taking over a bank account altogether and allowing some access and indepedence to the PWD. There are people out there with a proper understanding who are slowly but surely coming up with more ideas to help the lives of family and PWD.

 

[Clare_76]

The advert is very emotional and hard hitting. I understand awareness is needed, but I wish there was a warning before the advert as there is on this page. I wad diagnosed in January with Young onset Vascular Dementia, I was 47. I am still coming to terms with my diagnosis whilst trying to support and reassure my son who has complex special needs. It is extremely scary to know what is going to happen to me but not when, the advert had me in tears and hasn't helped my mental health at all. I don't think the sufferers themselves were thought about when making this advert, especially those starting out on this awful journey.

 

[Togamay]

The new advert sums up the condition so well. I can’t actually watch it as I become so emotional but it really does capture the feelings of everyone involved xx

 

[lisbet]

Just to reiterate our content warning: this advert is very emotive and hard-hitting. If you are going through a difficult time at the moment, now may not be the right time for you to watch it. Here at Dementia Support Forum, we want you to prioritise your mental health & wellbeing. If you think this video might be a hard watch, please feel free to close the page.

If you are watching, the forum is here 24/7 to offer support and understanding. You might like to post in this thread about your thoughts and feelings.

If you'd like to speak to someone, please consider giving our Dementia Support Line a call. The line is open 9am - 8pm Monday to Wednesday, 9am - 5pm on Thursday and Friday, 10am - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. The number is 0333 150 3456 (this is a national rate number and should be part of an inclusive national rate minutes allowance on landline or mobile contracts).

If you'd like to watch the advert, please scroll down.

 

[lisbet]

Personally this worries me. At the moment, my only concern is my mum who is in the relatively early stages. I'm already distressed by the current Alzheimer's ad because I'm horrified to think of my mum seeing it. I agree that awareness needs to increase but, right now, I don't want my mum to become aware of how bad things could get for her. I know but am glad that she doesn't.....until she sees your advert.

 

[Nightjar]

I really didn't like this - I was s glat that my partner, who is in relatively early stages of dementia, wasn't watching when I saw it as it would have scared and depressed him. Made me feel really miserable too.

 

[Barnei]

I thought this was good as an awareness raising tool among the general population. I care for a husband ive lost over and over again yet still remember and love the man i met 50 years ago and married 47 years ago. Its not an easy road to travel and one we never choose but id like to think someone would understand and care if i ever needed the same support.

 

[Jorange]

I found it very upsetting. I understand these adverts need to be impactful but now my own Dad is potentially starting a dementia journey this advert makes me cry. My children are horrified that that is how their grandad may end up being. There's no gradual course for them, getting used to the changes and learning what we need to do, it was all crammed into a short ad. The terrifying conclusion. This is just my opinion from the very start of what may become, seeing worrying changes in my Dad so I understand other people further down their journey will feel differently.

 

[Jorange]

I really didn't like this - I was s glat that my partner, who is in relatively early stages of dementia, wasn't watching when I saw it as it would have scared and depressed him. Made me feel really miserable too.

I agree 100%. Hoping my Dad hasn't seen it.

 

[Emla]

I thought this was a very powerful message, portrayed well for the general public. Whilst my Mum is not too advanced with Alzheimers right now, she's already stopped working, most socialising, caring about her hair and clothes.. The message that you grieve them whilst they are still alive is horribly accurate. I don't talk to my mum about anything personal. No point as she will have forgotten it seconds later and can't follow the conversation to be able to contribute.

I hope the advert helps increase donations.