Please Explain Alzheimer's Disease to Me: A Children's Story and Parent Handbook About Dementia

Please Explain Alzheimer's Disease to Me introduces the condition to children in a colorful, sensitive and gentle story, followed by a parent/caregiver section that supplies comprehensive information that adults can use to understand and plan for the course of the disease affecting their loved one. Dr. Zelinger, a board-certified psychologist for children, presents the situation to children in a warm, developmentally appropriate way using appealing characters of diversity, child friendly language and familiar scenes they can relate to, as well as scripts that parents can use when speaking to their child. This book is more than a helpful guide-it's the only book you will need if you have a child who is asking, "What's wrong with grandpa?"

Children will:

• Enjoy the story and illustrations and will identify with the main characters
• Get answers to their questions
• Grasp the nature and reason for a grandparent's changes
• Learn basic biological information about brain function
• Understand why a grandparent will require more care
• Feel empowered and find ways they can be helpful

Parents and caregivers will:

• Have word-for-word scripts available to answer their child's questions
• Learn about the progression of the disease
• Understand their role and the nature of care that is required
• Gain information for decision-making in areas of medical, emotional and daily care
• Know they are not alone in this difficult journey

"Dr. Zelinger has provided an engaging book that presents important information in a user-friendly format and offers adults the foundation for easily engaging children in what may initially seem like a very difficult discussion. I will be sure to recommend this resource to everyone I know in the 'sandwich generation.'" -Shane S. Bush, Ph.D., ABPP, Board Certified in Geropsychology, President, American Board of Geropsychology

"I want to take this time to extend my sincere congratulations upon the completion of your book, Please Explain 'Alzheimer's Disease' to Me. Your ability to convey a complicated, tragic topic, through an easy-to-digest format for children is important and inspiring. In addition, your compassion and communication skills give voice to a valuable story. I look forward to following your future endeavors. Keep up the amazing work!" -- Todd Kaminsky, Senator 9^th District (New York State)

"Dr. Zelinger's book helps take the mystery out of a truly mystifying disease. The children's story will help reduce the anxiety and fear a child may have when faced with one suffering from Alzheimer's, and the adult portion of this book gives practical examples to help guide the adult when questions arise. A truly informative and inspired book." -Marilyn Cherney, occupational therapist; grandmother

"Dr. Zelinger takes a painful topic for both children and parents alike and turns it into a beautiful story and a detailed handbook that gives us the tools we need to broach a topic we all hope to never have to face. This book is a must-read for families facing the challenges that come along with a loved one experiencing Alzheimer's disease." -Avi Satt, president, Allegria Senior Living

"A much-needed book to explain a difficult topic to our children and ourselves. Dr. Zelinger's warmth, insight and clinical judgment shine through her every page! This is a superlative book that will get front row billing on my office bookshelf." -Deborah Lief-Dienstag MD, FAAP, pediatrician

From the Please Explain series

Learn more at www.DrZelinger.com

Author: Laurie Zelinger
Publisher: Loving Healing Press
Published: 06/15/2021
Pages: 46
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.98lbs
Size: 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.25d
ISBN: 9781615995929
Audience: Ages 4-8

About the Author
Zelinger, Laurie: - Dr. Laurie Zelinger is a board-certified psychologist with a specialty in school psychology, and a Registered Play Therapist with over 45 years' experience. She is a licensed New York State psychologist who, after retiring from a Long Island public school system, is now devoting her time exclusively to writing, consulting and her busy private practice for children. Previous books include: Please Explain Anxiety to Me: Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents; Please Explain Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy to Me: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Child for Surgery; Please Explain Terrorism to Me! A Story for Children, P-E-A-R-L-S of Wisdom for Their Parents; Please Explain Time out to Me! A Story for Children and Do-it-Yourself Manual for Parents; and A Smart Girl's Guide to Liking Herself Even On The Bad Days for American Girl. In June 2020, Dr. Zelinger's article, Expanding social stories beyond the autism spectrum was a featured article in Play Therapy magazine. She has a chapter on selective mutism in the John Wiley & Sons compendium School Based Play Therapy, as well as a chapter on prescriptive play therapy for fears and phobias in the 2019 Guilford Press compendium, Prescriptive Play Therapy: Tailoring Interventions to Specific Childhood Problems. Dr. Zelinger is also credited with being a consultant for the Bitty Baby book series by American Girl where she assisted in the development of the 'For Parents' sections as well as editorial development of another American Girl book. Her interest in writing began in 4th grade, when a play she wrote about the drought experienced in New York City at the time, was performed by the students in her public school. Dr. Zelinger is a fellow and previous officer in the national American Academy of School Psychology and had spent four years in the capacity of director on the executive board of the New York Association of Play Therapy. As a highly respected child psychologist, she has contributed to nearly 200 venues regarding child development. She and her psychologist husband, Dr. Fred Zelinger, are both certified Red Cross disaster mental health volunteers. They have been happily married for over 40 years, have raised four children and relish their roles as grandparents.