Helping Children Understand Alzheimer's Disease

Thank you for taking time to visit this web site and learn about The Magic Tape Recorder, a book I have written to help children understand some of the changes experienced by people as they age. The book explains that some older people have problems with vision, have a hard time hearing and many have Alzheimer's disease that makes remembering things that have just happened difficult. With five million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, this disease impacts the lives of many children. During more than twenty five years of working with people who have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, I have seen too many instances where grandchildren stop visiting their grandparents because they don't understand why grandma can't even remember their names. When memory loss is explained as a "broken" tape recorder, the children can understand that when a grand parent can't remember their name it's not because they don't care about them it's just because their tape recorder is not working. Alzheimer's disease takes enough of a toll on families; it should not rob them of a relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren.

The book is based on a program I have been offering to elementary school children for over six years. I have discovered that when I show children how to be "helpers" to people, who can't hear very well, have vision problems or can't remember things they are not uncomfortable with maintaining a close relationship with them. The "thank you" letters I receive from the children show me that they understand that they can still have fun with a grandparent who has memory loss and most remark on how happy they are that Alzheimer's disease is not catching. One fourth grader told me he was happy to learn that because he is a hypochondriac! The book has received wonderful reviews from experts in the field of aging and most importantly from the children who have read it. Some parents have told me that they never understood short-term memory loss until they read the book. I hope that it is a book for all ages.

As so many things in life, the book has taken on a life of its own. I live in Florida during the winter months and in Prague, Czech Republic in the summer. The book has become international as I have collaborated with a very talented artist Inka Delevov who has drawn colorful illustrations to support the text. The book has been translated into Czech and with the support of the Alzheimer's Society in the Czech Republic is being offered to Alzheimer's organizations in other countries to translate into their languages. Alzheimer's disease is an international problem that affects children all over the world. The Magic Tape Recorder provides one way to help them understand memory loss.

The book can be ordered here and shipped directly to you or to someone else. Special prices are available for organizations who may want to sell the books as a fund raiser or use them as a marketing item. I am also available to anyone that may want to sponsor a Grandma Joyce event in a local school or library. I have offered sessions at conferences on educating children about memory loss as a single session or as a plenary speaker with children on stage interacting with Grandma Joyce.

Joyce Simard, MSW
"Grandma Joyce"