The 87-year-old Hendrika has Alzheimer's must give up shopping due to the Covid-19 emergency. Her family sets up a supermarket for her at home.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousHendrika Van Genderen is 87 years old and suffers from Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. She lives in Australia and, due to the coronavirus emergency, she is forced to give up one of the favorite moments of her routine: shopping at the supermarket, accompanied by her son Jason. In order not to see her sad, then, Jason thought of an extravagant solution, but one that she managed to cheer up her mother: setting up a supermarket in her house.
Thanks to the help of his wife and two children, the house has been transformed into a supermarket full of products and complete with a red “Coles” sign, Hendrika's favorite Australian supermarket chain.
Week 4 of our family ISO… we decided to make our own supermarket-at-home for my dementia riddled mum. Her weekly…
Posted by Jason van Genderen on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
“These days of home isolation are incredibly difficult for all of us. But for someone battling Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, being confined to home destroys confidence, the weekly routine, and what little is left of short-term cognitive function. My mom is 87 years old and lives with us at home, we are her full time caregivers. We are now her full-time mall as well. My wife Megan, little girl Evie and son Art set up our home-made supermarket, stocking it with her favorite groceries. "
says Jason.
The idea succeeded perfectly, as evidenced by the video in which Mrs. Hendrika wanders with a satisfied smile and with her trolley among the shelves of the domestic supermarket. The sweet and funny scene was filmed and published by Jason on social media and on YouTube and got thousands of views and shares.
These impossibly tough days filled with so many emotions play out differently in every home. We just need to remember to let the sunshine in when we can. This little beam filled our hearts today ?? Hopefully it fills your’s too…#HomeShoppingWithOma
Posted by Jason van Genderen on Wednesday, April 8, 2020
The story also caught the attention of the employees of the Coles supermarket - where Hendrika generally goes shopping - who have prepared a box of products to restock the home supermarket. But she doesn't stop there. The idea of Jason and his family inspired many other people, including the managers of a home for the elderly (BlueWave Living) who wanted to replicate, setting up a small supermarket for their guests as well.
Posted by BlueWave Living on Monday, April 13, 2020
In these times of restrictions and upheavals, we all need to get back to normal; and some - like Mrs. Hendrika - perhaps more than others. Now more than ever there is a need for gestures of kindness and solidarity. To use Jason's words:
"Whatever your challenge at home, whatever your family situation, remember to let in some sunshine."
Fonte: Facebook/YouTube
