Jason van Genderen’s videos with Oma embraced by Good Morning America, James Corden
Central Coast-based filmmaker Jason van Genderen has highlighted the impact of social isolation on those with Alzheimers and dementia through videos that have gone viral.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Forresters Beach family have caught the attention of international media including Good Morning America and The Late Late Show with James Corden. Now supporters are keen for Ellen DeGeneres to feature their touching story.
A Forresters Beach family have caught the attention of international media including Good Morning America and The Late Late Show with James Corden. Now supporters are keen for Ellen DeGeneres to feature their touching story.
Filmmaker Jason van Genderen and his family made the decision to isolate at home early in the COVID-19 pandemic in order to keep his 87-year-old mother Hendrika, known as Oma, safe. She has Alzheimers and vascular dementia and has been living with them for four years.
During their time in home isolation, van Genderen has been creating “a legacy of stories and memories” in video form, initially for close friends and family. The videos highlight the day-to-day impact of isolation for someone in Hendrika’s situation, as well as their carers.
“It’s tapping into something personal but very universal,” van Genderen said.
He posted one video about how he and his wife and young children recreated his mother’s much-loved trips to Coles, setting up a makeshift supermarket in their own home.
That video alone has been viewed more than 15 million times and has received international news coverage.
“I hope it helps educate and make people understand a bit about the condition,” van Genderen said.
“And also it shows there’s a beauty and a lighter side to whatever challenges we all face.”
Due to the level of interest, he has created Omas Applesauce on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, where people can view videos featuring Oma in one place.
Since the makeshift supermarket video, van Genderen has posted videos about Oma’s Sunday Routine, Oma’s hot dinner date and Oma’s Need For Speed – which shows Hendrika’s fondness for the occasions when Jason needs to accelerate during her outings in the car.
“Ironically, she never learned to drive. But as an 87 year old passenger, Oma loves nothing more than a foot squeezed firmly on the accelerator,” van Genderen posted online.
“Dementia treatment takes all forms … love, patience and sometimes just a bit of loose fun!”
The videos show how losing their routine can impact on people with dementia; van Genderen felt it was a “gentle spin on a difficult topic”.
The family have been inundated with messages of support and van Genderen said they have been challenged to “see if we can catch the eye of the one and only Ellen DeGeneres”.
They have also had someone question “the morals” of posting their videos to social media, something van Genderen was happy to address.
“I explained to them that we make sure, as a family, that any videos we post have to help promote understanding of dementia, are made with love and if Mum was to watch them in a cognitive state, that she would appreciate them,” he said.
While he and his Mum have been the ones featured, van Genderen said his wife Megan was the “invisible warrior”.
“I have learned a lot by seeing how beautiful my wife is with my Mum,” he said.
“Things can get tough but we look at the positives – we still have each other.”
