'It's not that scary': Book helps kids understand Alzheimer's

Teachers on P.E.I. have a new tool to help students learn how to talk to their relatives who have Alzheimer's.

What My Grandma Means to Say, by J. C. Sulzenko comes with a discussion guide that was developed by the author in collaboration with the Department of Education.

Corrine Hendricken-Eldershaw, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of P.E.I., hopes the book will make it easier for kids to understand and communicate with their older relatives.

"Bringing this resource and this awareness at this age, it will be helpful for them," Hendricken-Eldershaw.

"To have some facts around it, to have just some basic understanding, so that they are able to engage more, spend time with grandma or grandpa or being able to have time with a family member and knowing that it's not that scary."

The book and discussion guide are being provided to every English school library for students in grades four to six.

About 2,400 Islanders are living with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

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