Seth Rogen's Heart-Wrenching Journey: A Documentary on Alzheimer’s and the Cost of Care
Seth Rogen's Emotional Journey: Comedian Turns Pain into Powerful Documentary About Alzheimer's
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Seth Rogen has bared his soul and shared an intimate look at his wife Lauren Miller Rogen's devastating battle with Alzheimer's disease in their new documentary, Taking Care. The 43-year-old comedian, best known for his raunchy humor, revealed that he was blindsided by the cruel disease when his mother-in-law, Adele, passed away at just 68 years old after being diagnosed at 55.
Lauren Miller Rogen's emotional journey began when her mother, Adele, started showing signs of Alzheimer's. Lauren, 43, candidly shared how she feared the worst when her mom repeated a story multiple times - a telltale sign of the disease. "My mum was amazing... giving and caring," Lauren gushed about her late mother during an interview on BBC Breakfast. "She was funny and warm, someone who loved to entertain. She was very in control of things."
As Lauren's mom's condition worsened, she found herself shouldering the responsibility of caregiving. In a poignant moment captured on film, Lauren can be seen tenderly caring for her mother, whom she affectionately calls "Adele." "A few years ago, she stopped responding to 'mom' so I switched to Adele," Lauren revealed, her voice cracking with emotion.
Seth Rogen, who has never experienced Alzheimer's firsthand, was struck by the devastating impact of the disease on his wife and mother-in-law. "I had no idea what Alzheimer's was actually like," he confessed. "It's not in my family... I think I'd only seen it represented in movies and TV shows." Seth's eyes were opened to the harsh reality when he witnessed Adele's decline firsthand.
Taking Care, directed by James Keach, is a 38-minute documentary that follows Lauren as she navigates the complexities of caregiving. The film showcases the ups and downs of her journey, including moments of heartbreak, humor, and hope.
Lauren emphasized the importance of raising awareness about Alzheimer's, which affects one in three people over the age of 65. "I want people to understand what the disease looks like," she said. "We have to keep sharing these stories so that people really understand the need."
The couple's experience with Alzheimer's has also led them to speak out about the financial burden of caregiving. Seth pointed out that if they didn't have the means to care for Adele at home, they would have been forced to rely on costly institutional care. "Simply put, if you are not rich, you and your family will bankrupt you!" he warned.
Lauren's own health scare in 2022 added an extra layer of complexity to their journey. She revealed that she had a brain aneurysm removed after undergoing a full-body MRI scan following her grandmother, grandfather, and mother's battles with dementia. "They found this sort of aneurysm in my head," Lauren said, recounting the terrifying discovery.
In the wake of Adele's passing, Seth and Lauren have teamed up to raise awareness about Alzheimer's through their charity, Hilarity for Charity. Their documentary, Taking Care, is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
For those looking for more information about Alzheimer's, BBC Breakfast airs weekdays on BBC One from 6am and is available to stream on thescholarlynote.com.
