Explaining dementia to children

[kellyyoung]

Hi, I am researching into creating awareness of dementia with young adults/children, I was hoping for some insight into;

1. What parents main concerns are when explaining dementia to children?
2. Personal experiences in doing so?
3. Which methods/ ideas helped them understand dementia best?
4. Do you think there is enough support in doing this and for children after?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated

 

[Wifenotcarer]

Hi, I am researching into creating awareness of dementia with young adults/children, I was hoping for some insight into;

1. What parents main concerns are when explaining dementia to children?
2. Personal experiences in doing so?
3. Which methods/ ideas helped them understand dementia best?
4. Do you think there is enough support in doing this and for children after?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated

We have explained to the Grandchildren (9,10,&11 that Granpa has an illness that affects his brain making him forgetful, confused, tired and slow. They seem to have accepted this and still chatter away to him and involve him in their activities and games. Only the eldest (a boy) has asked if he will ever get better and has been told that no he will slowly get worse. When we are out together, this boy sticks to his Granpa like a limpet and has been a godsend when Granpa needs to go to the toilet as he can accompany him while I wait outside.

All of the children have asked their parents if Grandpa will die. They have been told that that everybody dies when they get really old, but Grandpa is not liable to be leaving us any time soon.

 

[Izzy]

Books such as these are very useful -

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20082/living_with_dementia_magazine/231/books_for_younger_people