Amanda Waring

AMANDA WARING SAYS
“Thank you for your interest in my award winning awareness raising film WHAT DO YOU SEE? This film has been acknowledged as one of the most valuable tools to highlight dignity and respect fort the elderly . For me the importance of honoring and having respect for older people inspired me to make my ten minute film WHAT DO YOU SEE? My film has been used around the world to re-enforce person centered care and the expectation of treating others as you would wish to be treated no matter what age, race, colour, creed or disability. I sold my flat in order to make this film as it was too important not to be made and again I will share the very personal reason as to why I made the film in the first place to put it in context before you view it".

When my mother- the actress Dorothy Tutin was being treated for leukemia at the age of 70 I witnessed the devastating effect that the lack of compassionate, person centered care had on her mind body and spirit. …and I was to witness many moments when she and other older patients were treated rudely and with a lack of respect.

I remember vividly the lack of communication and interaction with doctors and nurses with my Mother during her stay in that first hospital. It was as if she was invisible, human contact was at a bare minimum with the staff barely making eye contact. This lack of communication was crushing Mama’s spirit and she started to withdraw and disengage from life, that’s when I moved her to another hospital where we were rewarded with staff who were friendly and communicative and Mama’s. spirits and health improved. I do not believe that the staff in that first hospital were being deliberately cruel- simply that communication and interaction skills were not seen as an important part of helping a patient’ recovery which I certainly think they should be, after all emotional intelligence does not cost anything and it’s practice can vastly improve a person’s stay in a hospital or care home.

When Mama died I was determined to make a film that would raise awareness about respect for the elderly and funds from the sale of the film have previously been given to the charities Help the Aged and Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Wonderful Macmillan Nurses with their understanding of holistic care helped re- dress the balance for Mama at the end of her life. She passed away in the Macmillan unit of the King Edward 7th hospital, west sussex. The film has been made in her memory and I hope you can use the film to ensure a kinder and more compassionate future for us all.