Help kids understand Alzheimer’s disease

When a someone has Alzheimer's disease, it affects everyone in the family, including children. It's important to talk to them about what is happening. How much and what kind of information you share depends on the child's age and relationship to the person with Alzheimer's. Here are some tips to help kids understand what is happening: Answer their questions simply and honestly. For example, you might tell a young child, "Grandma has an illness that makes it hard for her to remember things." Help them know that their feelings of sadness and anger are normal. Comfort them. Tell them no one caused the disease. Young children may think they did something to hurt their grandparent. Get more information on helping kids cope, including activities to try with the person who has Alzheimer's. Share this information on social media: #Alzheimers can affect everyone in a family, including kids. Talk about what is happening in an age-appropriate, honest way. For example, you may tell a young child, "Grandma has an illness that makes it hard for her to remember things." Get more tips on helping kids cope: http://bit.ly/2He9TVO