When the folio is ported

Caretakers: A Trading Card Set about Dementia

The Caretaker will see you now…

‘Caretakers’ is exactly what the full title says it is: a trading card set about the mental degradation of dementia. It is something this designer fears deeply, and this was mean to help cope with the fear, as well as put it in a way that people of sound mind can understand.

This set of cards features 27 hand-drawn illustrations that may depict a symptom. However, they all tell an overarching story. The inspiration of the illustrations comes from Ivan Seal’s cover art for Leyland Kirby’s album: ‘Everywhere at the End of Time’, as well William Utermohlen (an artist best known for his self portraits while having dementia) and Dante Timberwolf (Who did the covers images for the EatEoT fan project, ‘Everywhere at the End of Time with Voices’).

Early Stage Dementia

Early Stage Dementia is the point where the first signs of memory loss is seen. This is the most lucid a person will be in the lives, with only little things being forgotten. The earliest stages are no different than just getting older, making early detection a difficult task. Colored pencil characterizes this stage where nostalgia of the final days are overshadowed with the horrors oncoming.

The story here follows a friend of the patient, where they are in denial of the oncoming decline. As the care needed for the patient grows and grows, the friend is forced to find help.

Middle Stage Dementia

Middle Stage Dementia is the set of symptoms that everyone is aware of. This encompasses the hallucinations, the lack of sleep, the aggression, and more. This is a mind trying to grasp what fleeting memories it has left, but what it finds leaves the mind in confusion and horror. This stage is done with marker, as it stands out the most. While this stage is the one where it is most obvious a mind is in turmoil, we do not know what the experience is like for someone in the throes of the disorder.

This story is shifted to the new caretaker, who reveals her motives for becoming a professional. She knows the role she plays is a cold and unfeeling one, but she wanted to be there for someone who needed it.

Late Stage Dementia

Late Stage Dementia is the final march to death. This is when the brain itself is dead. The patient is slowly losing their body. They are immobile. They do not speak. They do not eat. One day, they will forget how to breathe. The body fails as the brain loses control over upkeep. This set is mixed with the ‘terminal’ set, where the patient dies and the story gets a conclusion of sorts. This set is done with chalk to illustrate a delicate, crumbling mind, as well as a moody view of the incoming release.

The story ends with the caretaker leading the friend through the end of the patient’s life. The acceptance of death is often shown in the shorter sentences about the patient. The ‘Terminal’ set takes place with the funeral being over. The friend and caretaker meet for one last time and the patient finds the other side at peace.

Interested in the full set?

Fill this form out if you want the original set of the Caretakers cards to print. Use them how you like. Start a conversation. Just have them for art pieces. Gift them to someone you like, but not that much.

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