Diana Blocherer

I have been watching your show since the beginning and have always enjoyed watching human emotions and opinions come to the surface in a busy environment. You have always done a great job with your actor portrayal as well. This is, until last night when you did the story on the “mom” with dementia. The acting was spot on and the story line done well……….but why did the woman playing the mom have to appear so unkept leaning toward the appearance of a homeless person. Having dimentia does immediately change the outward appearance of a person. And especially if there is a caretaker involved this will most often result in just the opposite in appearance than what you showed. I speak from experience as my wife was diagnosed seven years ago with Alzheimer’s and she never appears looking as you showed your actor. People automatically assume that if dementia is in the picture that the person is on their death bed, very old and very pathetic looking. This simply isn’t true. My wife was diagnosed in her 60’s and to this day doesn’t have the “look” you portrayed. Yes, in the end stages things are different but you wouldn’t have them out at a public restaurant at that stage. I would hope that you might be more thoughtful and respectful of any “conditions “ you may include in future episodes