Tip for Kids and Coping with Alzheimer's Disease

What children may be feeling when a family member is suffering from Alzheimer's disease:

Fear and grief at the gradual losses the family member experiences.
Ashamed; may avoid inviting friends home.
Anxious if he or she detects stress in the parents' relationship.
Loneliness due to a parent focusing his or her attention on the ill family member.
Awkwardness due to a reversal of roles within the family.
Frustrated due to changes in lifestyle.
Frightened about his or her own future and the chances of getting Alzheimer's disease.

Tips for parents to help children cope:

Assess the child's need for counseling and refer him or her to a counselor who specializes in this area.
Notify the child's teachers and provide them with information about Alzheimer's disease.
Encourage open communication between parent and child.