Alzheimer’s disease affects the whole family, including children — especially when a parent or grandparent is diagnosed. Young people might have questions about what’s happening as the disease progresses. It’s important to answer these questions honestly and discuss the changes the disease might bring.
Depending on a child’s age, your approach to talking with them about Alzheimer’s will vary. For younger children, it may be helpful to use children’s books to initiate conversations about the difficult and complex emotions that may arise following a loved one’s diagnosis of dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Association has compiled a list of books for pre-kindergarten and elementary school-aged kids to learn more about the disease:
- Memory Box- 1992
- Recommended for ages 4-8
- Written by Mary Bahr, David Cunningham (Illustrator)
- Still My Grandma- 2007
- Recommended for ages 4-10
- Written by Véronique Van den Abeele, Claude K. Dubois (Illustrator)
- Weeds in Nana’s Garden- 2016
- Recommended for ages 5-8
- Written by Kathryn Harrison
- Wordsworth Dances the Waltz- 2007
- Recommended for ages 6-8
- Written by Frances H. Kakugawa, Melissa DeSica (Illustrator)
- Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator?- 2013
- Recommended for ages 7-9
- Written by Max Wallack, Carolyn Given
- The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones- 2016
- Recommended for ages 8-12
- Written by Wendelin Van Draanen
- Graduation of Jake Moon- 2002
- Recommended for ages 9-12
- Written by Barbara Park
If you have any questions or concerns about having these conversations with the child, consider reaching out to a school counselor, therapist or the child’s pediatrician for additional support. Online resources can be found on the Alzheimer’s Association’s website or are available through the Illinois Cognitive Resources Network.
