Clients and caregivers who use home care Worcester for dementia care have more than likely noticed a change in the way that people interact with someone with the condition. Friends and family, typically due to a lack of understanding, begin to treat the person differently. Often the unusual behavior comes from fear, especially among young children.

In London, the National Children and Adult Services (NCAS) conference, which took place October 16th-18th, launched a new resource pack to help teach children about dementia. The launch of the pack was the culmination of a project that introduced the theme of dementia into 22 primary and secondary schools. What was the goal? That today’s children will become the first “dementia friendly” generation. Through increasing children’s awareness of dementia it is hoped that the stigma of the disease will be removed and that the children will continue to be able to interact with people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as they grow up.

To help achieve the goal, schools integrated the theme into various subjects; science lessons that looked at what happens to the brain of someone with dementia, debates on dementia issues, and art lessons depicting the condition.

By 2050, the number of dementia cases is projected to triple worldwide. Chances are that children today will come in close contact with the condition at some point in their life through a grandparent, parent, other loved one, or perhaps themselves. By removing the stigma at an early stage it will not only create a more accepting society, but perhaps also encourage more people to enter into the study of the condition and the possible development of a cure.

For advice on how to teach children about Alzheimer’s disease at home, refer to our previous blog article: Teaching Children About Alzheimer’s Disease. There is information about explaining the condition and activities that he or she can do with their loved one.

Contact MAS Home Care of Massachusetts in Worcester at 508-459-2424.