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To what extent does Jack's story reflect the problems faced
by many old people who are "victims of their own neglect"? In
what ways could this film be useful in teaching health care professionals,
Department of Health workers, and Adult Protection Services workers about
the problems associated with self-neglect?
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At what point in the film did you begin to understand the
magnitude of Jack's problem? Summarize what you think is the nature of Jack's
problem.
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What strategies does Jack employ to enlist our sympathy
as viewers? What strategies does the filmmaker employ to enlist our sympathy
for Jack?
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Can you recall specific scenes that made you feel uncomfortable?
What are some of the reasons the filmmaker includes those scenes?
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At the end of the scene where the nurse attends to Jack's
foot, she tells him to stay off of his legs as much as possible. He nods.
Can you recall the action in the next scene? What was the filmmaker trying
to convey through this transition between scenes?
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What part has Jack's parents played in the development of
his character and values? What do his parents mean to him?
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To what extent is the Health Department portrayed as the
"villain" in this film? Is there really a villain to be found
in this matter?
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What aspects of Jack's character, experience, values, and
behaviors can you relate to or identify with most clearly?
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To what extent does the filmmaker portray Jack's story objectively
and fairly? Can you recall specific scenes of the film that support that
objectivity and fairness? To what extent does the filmmaker take Jack's
"side" in her presentation of Jack's story?
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How does the filmmaker involve the audience in this film?
How does that involvement affect our response to Jack as a person and to
Jack's problems with the Health Department?
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What do you think Jack's house means to him? At one point
he says, "It's something I light up to." What do you think he
means by that statement?
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What do you think Jack's cats mean to him? Can you recall
specific visual information that helps us understand how important the cats
are to him?
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What role do the scenes showing Jack's neighbors (interacting
with Jack, talking about his problem) play in helping the audience identify
with Jack as an individual?
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Why does the filmmaker include scenes of Jack in his pajamas
going upstairs to bed, Jack visiting his parents' graves in the cemetery,
and Jack burying one of his kittens in the backyard?
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What form of counseling would have been most appropriate
and/or effective for Jack Huggins? What would have been some of the objectives
of that counseling? What obstacles would have to be overcome in order for
that counseling to be effective?
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Evaluate Jack's communication skills as depicted in the
film. Were you surprised when you learned that the psychiatrist called in
by Senior Link concluded that Jack was competent to manage his affairs?
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When Jack is confronted by pictures of the piles of garbage,
he denies that visual evidence. He maintains that the pictures were "rigged"
by the Health Department. Why does he find it so hard to admit this information?
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At one point Jack complains that he is being treated like
"Mr. Nobody." To what extent is that an appropriate phrase to
describe how society has treated Jack Huggins?
Evaluate the social support network as it relates to Jack Huggins' case. In
each case below consider the following questions:
