I am wondering if anyone has any experience to share about how they have supported teens who are in care partner roles supporting a parent who is living with dementia.
I think it is important to engage children and teens who have a family member with dementia in conversation about the disease, and help them understand what is happening (to the extent possible given their age). When my grandpa was diagnosed with dementia I was still a child, and I didn't understand why sometimes my grandpa would repeat himself, or call my family members by the wrong name. Sometimes I would even feel scared of him, if he would raise his voice or say things that didn't make sense. After my mom and grandma talked to me about the disease, I understood why he acted this way and I wasn't scared of him anymore. This allowed me to spend quality time with my grandpa, and build many more memories with him
I would imagine that being respectful of teens (not dismissing their contributions because of their age) and involving them in education and support opportunities would be important. Has anyone experienced this firsthand?
I agree. I think getting grandchildren, teens, even young adults involved in the conversation and education is a great way to become a "team" of care partners. My sister and I were late teens/early twenties when my grandmother was diagnosed and we never understood how we could help support my grandmother or our parents because they did not talk about the disease with us. Based on my family's experiance, grandchildren do not fully understand dementia and their parents (adult children) will feel as if they do not want to "bother" them by including them as a care partner. For our family, talking about the disease and educating everyone has allowed us to move forward as a team and support one another and my grandmother.
I agree getting teen's or kids involved in the care process is important but our 18 yr old son is determined to ignore the fact that his father who is 64 and has been diagnozed with Early on set of Alzheimer's about 2 and half yrs ago. He spends as little time as he possibly can at home ever since the official diagnoses. Our home used to be the hub of all his friends but now it is a ghost town. I try to make time for him, and keep him informed and he helps out if I ask him to get food for his father but generally he does a disappearing act on a constant basis. He feels abandoned by his father unfortunately and there is nothing I can do to change it. I try my best to spend time with him to let him know I am still here but it is hard for all of us.
In the US there are a number of summer camp experiences to help children share in their discovery of living with parents with dementia. May be an idea we have to formulate here in Canada.