Compassion: documentary about a pioneering care model from Denmark that meets dementia patients with empathy.
Film plot and background
Documentary about a pioneering care model from Denmark that meets dementia patients with empathy.
The documentary “Compassion” by Louise Detlefsen depicts everyday life at the Danish private nursing home Dagmarsminde. The director May Bjerre Eiby founded this almost revolutionary concept.
Instead of medication, the senior citizens are given cake and champagne. Unlike in many other nursing homes, the aim is to wean the senior citizens off unnecessary medication. Instead, the treatment consists of hugs, eye contact and company, an image that is unfortunately too rare in the everyday life of many nursing homes. A glass of champagne or port here and there is also part of Dagmarsminde’s repertoire. The aim here is to live in the moment, which may make it easier to treat some conditions such as dementia.
“Compassion” – background, cinema release
In a sensitive way, director Louise Detlefsen portrays the everyday life of a unique nursing home. To age in dignity is the highest credo there. In the future, the number of 80-year-olds will continue to rise, and some of them will also suffer from dementia. The disease is particularly hard on the mind, and those affected sometimes don’t know where they are from one moment to the next.
The documentary “Compassion” wants to play a part in continuing the social debate about the management of nursing homes. What is most important at the end of life? And what kind of life do you offer the oldest generation? “Compassion” opens in German cinemas on 23 September 2021, just two days after World Dementia Day on 21 September.
