So many of us are going through the trials and tribulations of a family member dealing with Alzheimer’s or another form of Dementia.
Carmen Davailus heads the non-profit group Doggies for Dementia Foundation.
Their goal is to raise awareness about dementia and capture candid photos of those affected by dementia surrounded by their loved ones and, of course, their family pet. She helps people around the country and around the world.
If you have questions or know of a photographer who would like to volunteer to help this great cause, Contact Doggies for Dementia.
Read the full transcript
Transcript of Interview: “Doggies for Dementia”
Mike Barnes:
You know, we’re all going through some tough times at times because of Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc. The latest story with my mom is my dad went to visit her. He does three or four times a week, and he went to visit her today, and she was mad because he hadn’t visited in three months. It had only been two days, but she hasn’t even been there for three months.
Kim Barnes:
Exactly. You run into that type of situation, I guess you could say, when you’re dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. You want to have those memories and be able to remember our loved ones in a really positive light. We’re excited to introduce you to Carmen Davailus, who has a non-profit called Doggies for Dementia. That really is what you’re all about, isn’t it?
Carmen Davailus:
Yeah, it sure is. Doggies for Dementia is a non-profit, and we gift families those special memories and experiences with photo sessions. Most sessions are actually two: one initially with their family dog, a therapy dog, or a community dog, and we get those beautiful candid images and the experience around it. For women, we do hair and makeup and things. Then I do a second session, which I call the reveal, where they look at their photos for the first time and the video slideshow that I put together for them. That is sometimes even more impactful.
Kim Barnes:
I can just imagine the delight in their eyes.
Carmen Davailus:
Yeah. To hear, “Oh my gosh, you captured that moment for us, and this is priceless.” There is just no way to put a value on that because it’s just one of those moments that you won’t have again. It’s great that you’ve set this up as a non-profit, so it’s free to the families.
Kim Barnes:
Yes.
Carmen Davailus:
Originally, it was part of my business as a photographer, and families never paid. I just thought this is something special for the families. It came out of a book I wrote. I followed 13 families for about two or three years, and I couldn’t imagine telling their stories without photos and images. What I realized was when I shared on social media, the images that had dogs got a lot more likes, comments, and attention. I thought, well, that’s what we want because we’re trying to raise awareness. We want people to learn about dementia and reduce the fear associated with it so that the families aren’t so isolated and lonely. I’m a dog lover, so I thought, let’s include photos with dogs whenever we can. It’s not always possible, but whenever we can, we do. People truly scroll through pictures of people, and when dogs are included, they stop and say, “Oh, dogs!”
Kim Barnes:
Yeah, we love animals. What about that? I love that you shared that because I was wondering where the dogs came in. So, I imagine if somebody has a cat or something, that’s okay too?
Carmen Davailus:
Yes, it’s twofold. As a photographer or visual artist, when you add another element like a dog or cat, it helps. For the person with dementia, they’re not posing. They don’t have to be anything more than just who they are, which is a real gift, especially in the earlier stages when there’s a lot of discomfort about saying the wrong thing. When I add the dog to the mix, they forget I’m there and just play with the dog. That is a wonderful gift and experience for them. It brings me great joy. People ask if I ever stop smiling, and I say, “No, pretty much no.”
Kim Barnes:
That’s right. It’s also great that you’re not just a photographer. No offense to photographers, but you have quite a history with helping dementia patients.
Carmen Davailus:
I do. I’m 62, and I kind of started over at 60. I’ve been a nurse and nurse practitioner for over 40 years. The last 10 to 15 years were primarily focused on seniors and dementia care. I studied dementia more and worked with geriatric psychiatry and neurology with dementia care. I remember sitting and talking with families, either in their home or in the clinic, and thinking the world would be a better place if we could hear these stories of their challenges and triumphs. It was an epiphany for me one day in the clinic. I felt like someone needed to write a book about this and share these stories. By the time I got home, I had a plan in place and couldn’t imagine doing it without photos.
Mike Barnes:
Wow.
Kim Barnes:
Yeah, that tells so much. As former journalists, we know the value of video and pictures. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Carmen Davailus:
Absolutely.
Kim Barnes:
You have such a heart for people with dementia and their families. It’s awesome that you can give both an experience for the person with dementia and great memories for the family.
Carmen Davailus:
Yes. In addition to that, I realized this when I wrote the book. My first thought was to educate and help people learn about dementia. But I realized the legacy it helped create for the families, telling their loved one’s story. Families love knowing they’re helping others by sharing their stories. We do the sessions, use social media to share the stories, and help others learn about dementia.
Mike Barnes:
Do you remember your first photo session with Doggies for Dementia? Did you realize then how life-changing it could be?
Carmen Davailus:
I do. My first session was with a lady who was in the book. Her family welcomed me to come with the dog. I didn’t have a video camera at the time, just two cameras, one with me and one set up to shoot every few seconds. During the session, the mother, who hadn’t spoken in months, looked at her daughters and said, “I love you too.” I got goosebumps and decided to always have a video camera from then on. That happens almost every session—something momentous. Now, I can include that in the story.
Kim Barnes:
Do we really want to remember this time of our lives?
Carmen Davailus:
Every time of our life is valuable and an important part of our life story. To leave it out tells a different story.
Mike Barnes:
This is something you do all over the country, right?
Carmen Davailus:
Yes, currently, I’m all over Texas, covering different areas. I do one or two shoots a month. The idea is to have volunteers around the country—other volunteer photographers to be part of Doggies for Dementia. They would do the sessions, and we’ve even gone international. We’ve spoken with people all over the world. If you had asked me five or six years ago what would happen with this, I wouldn’t have expected this. We’re just over a year old now. Volunteer photographers and photo editors are needed for all the pieces that go into creating what we give to families and use on social media.
Kim Barnes:
We’ll have your contact info in the description here on Facebook, so anyone interested in this for someone they know with dementia or Alzheimer’s can contact you. Anyone who knows a photographer who might want to volunteer can also reach out to you.
Carmen Davailus:
Yes, just reach out to me. We are growing, with a board and things, but I’m the contact person.
Mike Barnes:
That’s great. We love what you’re doing.
Kim Barnes:
Yes, we really appreciate it.
Carmen Davailus:
Thank you for having me.
Mike Barnes:
Thank you.
Kim Barnes:
What a gift for the families.
Mike Barnes:
I love that. I can just imagine my mom with our dog, Diamond. Even with Alzheimer’s, where she doesn’t remember relatives or friends, she would love being around a dog. Carmen is doing a great job.
Kim Barnes:
Absolutely.
Mike Barnes:
If you have any other topics you’d like us to do interviews on, let us know. We’re happy to do it here on Parenting Aging Parents.
*This transcript is auto-generated. Please excuse any typos or mistakes.
