How to Explain to Your Children Why Their Grandparents Might Not Recognize Them

If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, dealing with the situation can be challenging. It can be more difficult when you are tasked with the role of explaining to your children why their grandparents might not recognize them. However, you have to gather the courage and help them understand the situation so they can adapt to a whole new lifestyle.

Although it may not be an easy task, you can follow these simple tips to help them understand and cope with their grandparents’ dementia.

Tips to Help You Explain to Your Kids About Dementia

Children can observe and easily recognize when something about their grandparents has changed. They may ask questions or even try to offer solutions. How you handle this phase can help reassure them and help them cope with the situation. Explaining to them may also help them understand the reason behind the changes and how they should treat their grandparent henceforth.

Here are some tips that may be helpful:

Be Sincere

The first step to helping your children understand dementia is being honest about the condition. Explain to them that their grandparent has a condition that makes it hard to recognize them. Let them understand that they cannot interact the way they used to but they have to cope with the changes.

Help Them Understand the Condition

Talk to them about the causes of dementia. Help them understand the signs and symptoms as well as the effects of this mental condition. Let them also understand how the condition is changing their loved ones' life. Most importantly, encourage them to spend more time with their grandparent rather than avoiding them.

Be Calm

As you talk to your children, do not display any signs of nervousness. This will only make them more worried and may affect them psychologically. Try to explain why their loved one repeats themselves and tell them how they should respond.

Be Sensitive

As you explain the causes and effects, use a language that children can understand. Instead of showing them how irreversible the situation is, you can tell them that it is only a change in behavior but their favorite grandparent has not changed.

Encourage any Conversation About the Condition

You may feel tempted to brush off your children when they keep asking questions. However, doing so may cause more harm as the kids will notice the tension and feel sad. Instead, talk openly with your children and try to answer any questions they may ask. They will soon understand why grandma or grandpa asks endless questions or asks about the same thing time and again.

It may take a little more time for the children to understand and get used to the new life. You should help them cope with the situation and reassure them that their grandparents will be fine. Let the conversation remain open and address any concerns they may raise.

Get In-Home Care at Senior Helpers of Charlotte

It is normal to feel overwhelmed by your senior loved ones' memory loss, more so if you have to explain to your children why their grandma or grandpa's behavior has changed.

At Senior Helpers of Charlotte, our professional in-home caregivers are compassionate and dedicated to supporting seniors and helping them live fulfilling lives. We offer dementia and Alzheimer's care and other senior care programs and services to residents of Charlotte, Pineville, and Concord to help make your elderly loved one more comfortable. Contact us today for more information.