Mommy, why doesn't Grandma know my name?

She will forget my name soon too Madison

But she knows your name, why not my name?

She forgot your name because she has Alzheimer's Disease

Does that mean we can't see Grandma anymore if she doesn't know who we are?

Absolutely not sweetie!

Even if Grandma doesn't know your name, she knows when we visit and she appreciates us being there and doing things with her!

Is there anything fun  I can do with Grandma so I can show her I love her?

Of course there is sweetheart. There's lot's of things you can do

You could go with grandma to Music Therapy! This can help bring up old memories for Grandma if she listens to music that she enjoyed when she was younger (1).

Come on, baby, Let's do the twist

Take me by my little hand, And go like this

Oh my gosh, when I was a teenager, this was one of my favourite songs. 

I love getting to listen to the music you love Grandma.

Or you could go with her to Art Therapy and paint something! Art therapy can help Grandma express herself and make her think about past events in her life (7).

I painted a lady bug because that is Grandma's nickname for me

I painted a sun because I used to sing "You are my Sunshine" to my kids every night as they fell asleep

Physical therapy is also a great idea. You could take Grandma for a walk in the park. Exercise is great for many reasons, including improving Grandma's balance and keeping her brain and muscles as healthy as can be.

Wow I really enjoyed walking, I feel stronger!

Me too, we should do this more often Grandma.

You should go with Grandma to Animal Therapy and play with some dogs. Petting, going for small walks and giving the dog treats are great activities to help Grandma (2). Grandma may even remember her old dog, Tucker, when she sees the dogs (2).

This white dog looks like a dog I use to have when I was a young girl. His name was Tucker.

I love when you talk about when you were young Grandma.

Another fun activity you could do is go to Dance therapy together. Dance will help Grandma by making her feel less anxious as she only has to focus on movement of her body (8). It also helps with her more aware of her space which can prevent her from falling.

How did you enjoy dancing Grandma? I am so tired!

I feel much more calm. Thanks for dancing with me

You could also do some gardening with Grandma. This is called horticulture therapy and this will make Grandma feel like she is helping us out, which will make her feel less agitated or frustrated. (4)

Your mom will be so happy when she sees how pretty we made the garden.

We are such a big help.

If you're up for it, you could take Grandma to laughter therapy. Making Grandma laugh will make her feel safe and accepted. Laughter produces the happy chemical called endorphins (5). These endorphins will create a special connection between you and Grandma. 

AHAHAH...

I feel so happy!

AHAHAHAHAH

AHAHHAAHA

this makes me feel happy too Grandma

AHAHAHA