- New documentary Facing the wind follows two women, Linda Szypula and Carla Preyer, who form friendships while caring for their husbands who have dementia with Lewy bodies
- The progressive disease, which actor Robin Williams had at the time of his death, is characterized by agitation, hallucinations and cognitive decline
- In this exclusive clip, the women share their struggles as caregivers, saying they’re “suffocating”
The heartbreaking toll of dementia is explored in a new documentary, Facing the windwhich gives an intimate look at how dementia with Lewy bodies affects not only those with the disease, but also the people who love them.
The film revolves around two women – Linda Szypula and Carla Preyer – whose husbands Jim and Patrick have a progressive disease. Two women meet at a support group and form a friendship while dealing with the mental and emotional task of caring for a person with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD).
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease; However, unlike most well-known forms of dementia, LBD is not characterized by memory loss. As the Mayo Clinic explains, people with LBD can experience visual hallucinations, movement problems that mimic the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, depression, and cognitive problems.
Jim and Linda Szypula.
DOC NYC
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Actor Robin Williams was diagnosed with LBD before his death by suicide in 2014; his widow Susan Williams said symptoms of LBD contributed to his death.
“It wasn’t depression that killed Robin,” Williams told PEOPLE. “Depression was one of let’s call it 50 symptoms, and it was small.”
IN Facing the windLinda and Carla lean on each other as their husbands’ symptoms gradually worsen; Carla and Patrick renew their vows at home amid Patrick’s increased agitation, leaving them mostly housebound. Meanwhile, Linda and Jim’s road trip is cut short as he struggles with an intense fear of being away from home.
At one point, Linda and Carla join other caregivers from their support group on a rare getaway.
In this exclusive clip, Carla explains that “Patrick’s waking hours are decreasing,” saying her husband’s illness is “advancing.”
Faith Hill opens up about losing her father to Lewy body dementia: ‘Tim would visit him every day’
“Every day there’s a new sadness,” shares another member of their support group — which causes Linda to break down as she shares her struggles as a caregiver.
“It just hits me that I’m going back to it tomorrow. I’m coming back to reality, and what if I’m not strong enough for that,” he says. “I’m suffocating… he would be there for me and he would never be like this. And the thought of going home — this is how I feel when I walk in my house. I feel like I can’t even breathe.”
“Something my mom always said, ‘This too shall pass,'” Carla says before hugging Linda.
The film was directed by Deirdre Fishel, who directed the police documentary women in blue, about Minneapolis police officers who tried to reform their department in the years before George Floyd’s death in 2020.
Facing the wind will premiere at DOC NYC — the largest documentary film festival in the US — on November 20. Tickets for attending the event in person or for the stream Facing the wind online (from November 21 to December 1) are available here.
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Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education