Description

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How would you introduce a topic like dementia to a child? "Sometimes Grandma Calls Me Jean" can help families, facing this issue, who have young children. The story portrays a relationship between a young girl, Grace, and her grandmother, who has dementia. Each thoughtful illustration represents the passing of time and the changes that dementia brings. Despite dementia's effects, Grace continues to demonstrate simple, but valuable, ways to interact with her grandmother and play an important role on her care team.

Supporting Children

At the end of the story, twenty detailed tips are provided to help parents/caregivers support children who have loved ones with dementia. These tips include:

Questions to ask that will encourage interaction with the story
Ways to build empathy for a loved one with dementia
How to talk with a child about his/her feelings
Activities to facilitate positive interactions between children and loved ones with dementia
Suggested Bible verses to memorize as sources of comfort
Valuable reminders for the parent/caregiver

The book also includes a "How Am I Feeling?" chart for children who may need visual support to express their emotions. Real pictures of Grandma Bonnie are also provided on the pages called "Grandma's Photo Album."

Honoring our Loved Ones

As the generations of families age, parents find themselves pulled toward the differing needs of their children and their elders. Parents in this stage of life are known as the "sandwich generation." During this stage, parents model for their children how to care for loved ones dealing with the challenges of aging, including dementia. The actions of parents will exemplify attitudes of spite or grace, frustration or mercy, and suffering or hope. May the purchase of this book move both adults and children toward positive choices that honor our aging loved ones.

Donation

10% of the profits from this book provides assistance to others who have loved ones with dementia.

About the Author

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Jill is a country girl at heart. Growing up in an Ozarks town called West Plains, MO, she spent hours outside petting dogs, snuggling cats, fishing in farm ponds and dreaming of owning a potbellied pig. Even as a young girl, Jill expressed her emotions through writing poetry and songs. God gave Jill deep compassion for the most vulnerable. A master's degree in education opened doors in the fields of mental health and special education for a career of serving people of all ages, babies to adults. In 2009, she found herself needing to move back to her hometown to help take care of her aging parents. At that point, Jill and her husband, Phil, had three children ages 7, 10, and 13. The family would now serve together as care partners for her parents. Jill's father passed away in 2014. After he died, Jill's mother, Bonnie, was diagnosed with dementia. Jill's strong faith in God, and love for family, have inspired her to share her family's dementia story to support others on a similar journey. To learn more about Jill and her book, please visit her author website at: www.jillpietroburgo.com