Videos Archives - GERDA SAUNDERS

August 6 2016

Gerda Saunders’ Feelings About Her Dementia in Relation to Michael Rossato-Bennett’s Music and Memory Documentary “Alive Inside”

This video consists of an excerpt from the panel discussion about Michael Rossato-Bennett’s documentary Alive Inside arranged by the Utah Commission on Aging and hosted by Salt Lake Acting Company in 2015. Gerda Saunders, who has dementia, was one of the panelists. She speaks about her feelings regarding Alive Inside , which tells of Dan Cohen’s work of bringing music to […]

July 30 2016

Neuropsychological Tests: “Downhill From There”

We’re continuing our series with Gerda Saunders. Gerda has progressive dementia, and she’s been letting us follow her along the way. Recently, we went with Gerda and her husband to the doctor for her latest evaluation, a series of memory tests. The results gave her a sense of urgency, and oddly, relief. As Gerda told […]

July 30 2016

The Body That Is Left: Gerda Talks About Assisted Suicide

When the time is right, Gerda Saunders is going to take her own life. Gerda has a progressive form of dementia and we’ve been following her during this process. Of course, identifying the right time is going to be difficult, but she knows her family will support her when she makes the call. Life is […]

July 30 2016

Gerda’s Dementia: Introduction

In 2010, Gerda Saunders learned that she has dementia. She was 61 years old at the time, and a professor at the University of Utah who was already recognizing symptoms in herself. This short film is the first in a series of portraits about Gerda and the family and friends that surround her with love.

July 20 2016

Another VideoWest film of Gerda: “Downhill from There”

Yesterday afternoon I got a note from videographer Josh Weathers that the latest short film VideoWest is making of me is out. Peter and I watched it right away, and it was not very uplifting. I am still glad VideoWest made it, because it is very important to me to be honest about my dementia and […]

May 21 2016

Gerda Talks to Her Family About Assisted Death: Video Now on Slate

How do you ask your family to help you die? And what does it mean to choose to stop living? To see part of our family’s response to these questions, watch our conversation about assisted death in a VideoWest short film, The Body That Is Left, appearing on Slate this week. To those of you who have […]