Choosing a Storybook about Alzheimer's Disease
Books depicting dementia must have expressed intentions to help children understand and cope with the changes that dementia diseases like Alzheimer’s bring to family life and to support the maintenance of relationships between family members.
Does the storybook:
- Provide straightforward and comprehensive Alzheimer’s information for the parent?
- Use diverse characters children can relate to?
- Contain images and words that capture children’s experiences with a relative who has Alzheimer’s (social, cultural, emotional effects)?
- Show the child seeking support from a parent/caregiver?
- Depict healthy coping skills and positive communication through their characters?
- Show common Alzheimer's behaviors that may cause anxiety and fear in children?
- Support the ongoing grandparent child relationship?
- Provide children with answers to frequent questions about Alzheimer's?
- Offer ways for children to interact and engage positively with a relative with Alzheimer’s?
- Provide basic knowledge about how the brain is affected and what changes will take place as the disease progresses?
- Show the progression of the disease and give examples of what type of care the relative may require?
- Depict child characters in a way that models a willingness to be kind, compassionate, and empathetic?
- Contain examples of how a child can be involved in the care provided to the relative?
For questions, please contact Jennifer Munter at jennifermunter@montana.edu