Creating Awareness of Alzheimer’s for Children on World Alzheimer’s Day
September 21, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Parenting
Children also encounter Alzheimer’s when a family member becomes stricken. They can learn to accept it as part of life and still enjoy that person or become fearful, depending on how you approach it.
Today, September 21, has been designated at World Alzheimer’s Day, when activities focus on world awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. Various events, such as walkathons, workshops, get-togethers have as their goal…creating more awareness of this disease and the people who have been stricken with it.
My grandchildren never knew my mom (their great grandmother) without Alzheimer’s, so they accepted Grandma DeeDee as the person they visited in the nursing home. We had tea parties. They played on the floor around her. They chatted with her in their own languages.
“Grandma understand me,” my grandson commented. “She talk to me. But she doesn’t talk to you.” That was their special time.
When someone asked my granddaughter why she visited a lady who didn’t know her, Kara replied, “Because it makes Grandma DeeDee happy.”
Ultimately this awareness of Alzheimer’s throughout the world, emphasized by World Alzheimer’s Day, should result in more research and recognition as an increasing number of people reach the “Alzheimer’s age.”
Here are some sites/blogs that give recognition to World Alzheimer’s Day. Help spread the word yourself.
- At Minding Our Elders, Carol Bradley Bursack discusses World Alzheimer’s Day: Truly a Global Issue.
- Today is World Alzheimer’s Day at Healthy Aging
- Everyday Health has an Alzheimer’s Disease Center
Are you doing something special today with your Alzheimer’s family member? Share with us your thoughts and feelings.
(Amazon images; click on each for details)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
