UConn Journalism Prof. Steven G. Smith ’s long-term picture story about a daughter caring for her 85-year-old father in the final stages of dementia was recently recognized by the 79th Pictures of the Year International (POYi) competition.
"A Daughter's Long Goodbye, A Caregiver's Journey" shows how dementia and COVID-19 have given Leandra Manos the battle of her life.
POYi judge Nikki Kahn commented, “This is a classic picture story that carries you through a journey, with so much intimacy.”
POYi is the oldest and one of the most prestigious photojournalism competitions globally. POYi recognizes excellence in photojournalism, multimedia, visual editing and documentary storytelling. Last year, the contest attracted over 40,000 entries.
Prof. Smith’s work was recognized as a finalist in the “Issue Reporting Picture Story” category. His work has been recognized eleven times by POYi over his career.
Over the last two years, Leandra has had many close calls with George getting out of bed and wandering around at night. Leandra’s solution is to sleep next to her father’s bed to prevent him from hurting himself. (July 9, 2021/Steven G. Smith)
After giving George a haircut, Leandra shows him his smiling face in a hand mirror. Both COVID-19 and dementia have made leaving the house for a haircut seem like an impossible endeavor. Leandra does most of her caretaking from her small two-bedroom home. (July 6, 2021/Steven G. Smith)
Leandra has a daily routine with her father, and she bathes and dresses him in the morning to prepare him for the day. Early on, the two used to manage the routine well together. Over time, George has become totally dependent on her care. (August 10, 2021/Steven G. Smith)
Overcome by her circumstances, Leandra sits on the front porch. One of George’s home healthcare providers unexpectedly stopped seeing George. Daily chores and yard work have been all but unattainable over the last two years because of her father’s constant needs. (November 8, 2021/Steven G. Smith)
