Book Description
Wouldn't it be nice to find ways to help a loved one suffering from dementia? Children may not understand what is really happening to their loved one, but they want to be helpful! This picture book aids children in understanding how they can help a loved one who is having trouble remembering things. This story follows a little boy and his grandpa. The boy and his grandpa always did things together like take walks, read stories, and play music. And then one day the boy's grandpa didn't remember his name. The boy's mom gives him advice on how he can help his grandpa. And then we see the little boy helping his grandpa. The boy takes walks with his grandpa, he reads to his grandpa, and he plays music for his grandpa. The boy realizes that although his grandpa doesn't remember his NAME, his grandpa does remember HIM.This is an important book as our population ages and more loved ones become afflicted with dementia. Learning how best to help these loved ones should be discussed. There can be a tendency to shelter our children from seeing their loved ones decline. But children can help and children want to be helpful. This story provides some concrete examples of how children might help a loved one suffering from dementia.The author is a retired teacher who lost her father to Alzheimer's a few years ago. This book is based on her family's experiences with her father during his illness. Her father enjoyed all the activities shared in this book, and the author knows her father's last years were more pleasant because they worked to keep him as engaged as possible.
