Educator helps children understand what Alzheimer’s means for families

August 8th, 2014

Alzheimer’s disease is a scary situation for adults. Imagine being a child and trying to understand how the diagnosis affects the entire family.

chang cover

Why Can’t Papa Remember My Name? is a resource for children on Alzheimer’s disease. The book teaches about the disease, that others are experiencing the same situation, and that mixed emotions are common and valid, all in language appropriate for children.

“The main point of the story is the changing behaviors of one who has Alzheimer’s explained in terms a child can understand,” Dr. Chang said.

Jeve prof pix

As primary caregiver for her husband, who had Alzheimer’s, Dr. Chang lived through the disease’s impact on young family members.

“Through my family’s experience, I observed the impact of this debilitating disease on family relationships, especially that of my grandson and his papa,” Dr. Chang said. “There were many resources on Alzheimer’s written for, about, and by adults, but books on the disease from a child’s perspective were limited.”

Why Can’t Papa Remember My Name? covers the confusion brought about by Alzheimer’s from a child’s point of view so young readers can understand what is happening and what they can do to help.

For more information, visit

One Response to “Educator helps children understand what Alzheimer’s means for families”

  1. Mike Good:

    Teaching people at a young age is the only way our society stands a chance as the Alzheimer's epidemic continues. It great to see more educational material becoming available.

Leave a Reply