Neuro Note #3
For my third neuro note, I read an article titled, "Ot's Role in Helping Grandkids Understand Dementia." I really enjoyed this article, and I think it is important for anyone, especially those who have a family member, who has any type of neurodegenerative disease, to read. This article shares the personal story of woman named, Kathryn Harrison, whose mother had dementia. Kathryn found a great way to teach her children what was going on with their grandmother, and why she had started acting so strange. Kathryn compared dementia to weeds in a garden, which is a great and understandable metaphor for younger children to comprehend why their grandparent is no longer the same.
I chose this article for my neuro note because the title fascinated me, and I was interested in a good way to deal with children, who are just too young to really understand what is fully going on with family members, who have a neurodegenerative disease. These diseases are hard enough for adults to understand because these diseases are different than other diseases because you cannot see them. Being able to explain something as complex as dementia to children takes real talent in my opinion. Reading this article made me realize how truly important it is to help educate all who are involved in the life of a person, who has a neurodegenerative disease. So many great things will come from educating children on these matters. Instead of keeping our children away from these neurodegenerative diseases, I think we should alternatively educate them. Educating children when they are young will also instill empathy in them for people who are dealing with life altering disabilities and diseases.
I really enjoyed how Kathryn mentioned all of the little things that her mother would do with the kids because of her dementia like, "singing loudly to nursery rhymes, eating candy off of the floor, and laughing as flowers fly through the air," and then in turn all of the things her children got to help her mother with like, "steading a tea cup, adjusting the wheelchair lock, and snuggling a soft toy." Dementia doesn't have to be all bad. Finding the little things that make great memories is so important. The children also had opportunities to provide their grandma with tender loving care. Having a close loved one with a disease as serious as dementia will really teach you to cherish the little things in life.
https://www.seniorsflourish.com/kidsanddementia/
I chose this article for my neuro note because the title fascinated me, and I was interested in a good way to deal with children, who are just too young to really understand what is fully going on with family members, who have a neurodegenerative disease. These diseases are hard enough for adults to understand because these diseases are different than other diseases because you cannot see them. Being able to explain something as complex as dementia to children takes real talent in my opinion. Reading this article made me realize how truly important it is to help educate all who are involved in the life of a person, who has a neurodegenerative disease. So many great things will come from educating children on these matters. Instead of keeping our children away from these neurodegenerative diseases, I think we should alternatively educate them. Educating children when they are young will also instill empathy in them for people who are dealing with life altering disabilities and diseases.
I really enjoyed how Kathryn mentioned all of the little things that her mother would do with the kids because of her dementia like, "singing loudly to nursery rhymes, eating candy off of the floor, and laughing as flowers fly through the air," and then in turn all of the things her children got to help her mother with like, "steading a tea cup, adjusting the wheelchair lock, and snuggling a soft toy." Dementia doesn't have to be all bad. Finding the little things that make great memories is so important. The children also had opportunities to provide their grandma with tender loving care. Having a close loved one with a disease as serious as dementia will really teach you to cherish the little things in life.
https://www.seniorsflourish.com/kidsanddementia/
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