For Those I Knew and Loved Before

By:  RJ Scarelli
Illustrated by Nick D’Avolio

About this Program

The MSU Extension Alzheimer's Dementia Awareness for ChildrenStorybook program is designed to teach children about a form of dementia.

The goals of the program are: 

1) increase awareness and knowledge about Alzheimer’s (a form of dementia) and

2) provide supportive resources to children and families when they have a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

The authors of this reading guide are:

• Marsha A. Goetting, MSU Extension Family Economics Specialist
  
  
• Keri Hayes, MSU Extension Program Assistant

Brief Summary

Introduces readers to the realities of Alzheimer’s through the eyes of a young child named Cindy watching her beloved grandparent change.  Cindy copes with her grandmother’s diminishing condition and rapid memory loss by having a conversation with her grandmother.  Cindy shows a vulnerable yet effortless way to approach this difficult subject. She shows how to effectively communicate struggles against the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s.

Questions to Ask

• How would you feel if someone you loved started forgetting things about you?
  
  
• What could you say or do to show someone with Alzheimer’s you still love them?
  
  
• What are some ways you can keep special memories alive?
  
  
• If you could give Cindy one piece of advice, what would you tell her?
  
  
• What is one question Cindy asks her grandmother in their conversation?

Activity Enrichment

• Help the child create a Memory Treasure Box filled with photographs, letters, drawings, and other items that remind the child about special people and events.
  
  
• Ask the child to pretend to be a newspaper reporter and interview a grandparent, parent, or older family member who is in an early stage of Alzheimer’s and write down one of their favorite memories.
  
  
• Have the child draw a Special Memory of a favorite moment the child has had with an older family member who is in an early stage of Alzheimer’s. Ask the child to share the story behind the picture.

Common Reactions

• Grief and loss: Remind the child that while memories are important, love is even stronger. Although dementia changes a person's memory, it does not erase the love shared between family members.
  
  
• Concern: A child may feel concerned and want to help.
  
  
• Sadness, Confusion, Frustration, Fear, Anger, Embarrassment, Worry, Grief, Love and Compassion
  
  

Other Storybooks and Reading Guides

Other Storybooks and Reading Guides can be found at: https://www.montana.edu/extension/alzheimers/booksandreadingguides.html 

Funding for purchase of the storybooks in this program have been made possible by a grant from the Montana Geriatric Education Center at the University of Montana, AARP Montana, and by the Endowment fund from National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS).