The Atoms Family
Chapter Five: Andrea's Memory Book
Author: Belize Lane, high school student writer
"Have you seen Grandpa Harold?" Andrea leaned out the door, calling to Brian. She shaded her eyes against the midday sun and searched the front yard for her brother. She couldn't see Brian, but she noticed a hunched silhouette limping down the sidewalk awkwardly. She could tell right away who that walk belonged to.
"Grandpa!" Andrea ran down the steps and out the gate, calling as she ran. "What are you doing?" She caught up to him quickly and stood there for a moment, catching her breath with her hand on her grandfather's shoulder. "Who are you?" he asked. His breath smelled of age and cigars as he turned, examining her face closely. By his blank stare, she could tell he didn't recognize her. Andrea led him gently back towards the house.
Just in the past month everyone had noticed Grandpa getting worse. Andrea had noticed him acting strangely recently. Not strange like forgetting to put pants on. She was used to things like that. This was a different sort of strange. Grandpa never knew where he was anymore. Most of the time he didn't even know who he was.
That evening Andrea and Brian found themselves in the living room with their parents for the hundredth time that month. It seemed like there was no end to the family meetings. Tonight was the first night of winter vacation, and they were cooped up wondering what to do about an old man who couldn't remember his own name. Andrea stared out the window, the conversation fading in and out of her mind. "Grandpa is very sick. We have the whole family coming down here for the next few weeks. We want everyone to be around for Grandpa. We need to find a way to help him," her mother said.
Andrea watched a group of kids through the window. They were crouching over the ground in the evening light, drawing chalk pictures along the sidewalk. What could the family do to help Grandpa remember who he was and who they were?
What would you tell Andrea to do?
Click here to tell Andrea what you think she should do. You will see how your peers advised her, too. Then you will see what she decided.
References
MacE, Nancy L. and Peter V. Rabins MD. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life. Warner Books. 2001. ISBN: 0446610410.
Alzheimer's Society. Caring for someone with dementia. Accessed July 2004.
Books for Kids
Bahr, Mary. The Memory Box. Albert Whitman & Company. 1995. ISBN: 0807550531.
Kibbey, Marsha. My Grammy. Lerner Pub Group, 1988. ASIN: 0876143281
Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. Aladdin Paperbacks. 2002. ISBN: 0689839855.
Willner-Pardo, Gina. Figuring Out Frances. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1995. ISBN: 0395915104.
Books for Adults
Davidson, Ann. Alzheimer's: A Love Story. Carol Publishing Corporation: Ontario. 1997.
DeBaggio, Thomas. Losing My Mind : An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer's. Free
Press. 2002. (also available on audio tape/CD, in large size font books and an e-book)
Mace, Nancy L., and Rabins, Peter V. The 36-Hour Day. Warner Books: New York. 2001.
Tanzi, Rudolph E., and Parson, Ann B. Decoding Darkness. Perseus Publishing: United
States. 2000.
Websites
Alzheimer's Association. Accessed July 2004.
American Psychiatric Association. Alzheimer's Disease. Accessed July 2004.
National Institute of Aging. Alzheimer's Disease and Education Referral Center.
Accessed June 2004.