Why Doesn't Grandpa Remember My Name?

Alzheimer's is sometimes difficult to understand as adults, but sometimes we forget how confusing it can be for a child when grandma or grandpa is diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Children do not understand why their grandparent is suddenly becoming more and more forgetful. So it is very important for us to be able to explain it to them in a way that they can understand. One of the most common questions they will ask is can I catch it? The answer is of course no. The simple way of explaining Alzheimer's to young kids is by saying something along the lines of "As we get older sometimes we start to forget things." Make sure they know that just because grandpa can't remember their name it doesn't mean he loves them any less.

Often this sudden change can be scary for children so encourage them to do activities with their grandparent. These activities (depending on the stage of Alzheimer's) can be going out for ice cream, playing a simple card game, reading together, etc.

Just remember keep your explanations nice and simple and think of different activities your child can do with grandpa to keep them engaged with each other.