‘My grandmother is forgetting things’
Dementia is a condition that affects a person’s memory, behaviour, thinking and cognitive abilities. It impacts ‘one in three people as they age,’ so recognising significant changes in your loved ones will benefit both them and you. The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation’s recently launched Malithi’s Diary, written by Nimal Gunewardena and Romany Parakrama is a colourful and concise (22 pages), easy-to-read book narrated from a child’s perspective, that serves as a guide and tool to help children understand what dementia is and how it can affect their loved ones.
Director of the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation, Romany Parakrama, told the Sunday Times that they wanted the book to be “as accessible as possible,” which is why they ensured it is available in all three languages: Sinhala, Tamil, and English. “We wanted a tool to help parents/adults to discuss Alzheimer’s or dementia with children, so as to take away the fear or confusion kids may have when they start seeing the changes in behaviour and memory as a result of this illness in a grandparent or elderly person. For us, it was important that children understand that this is not just old age, but due to a disease, and how to respond with empathy and love.”
The book outlines ten ‘diary notes’ written by our protagonist Malithi, who must keep notes about her family as homework for school. She starts to write about her grandmother but suddenly notices significant changes and begins asking questions like, “How could she forget?” The book highlights everyday conversations and various scenarios involving Malithi and her grandmother, such as ‘Making Coconut Rock,’ ‘The Fruit Trees in our garden,’ and ’Grandmother forgets breakfast,’ among others. With simple illustrations and words that convey the effects of dementia on children, through phrases like, ‘As people grow older, they tend to forget that tasks have already been completed, such as forgetting names’, it emphasises how Malithi starts questioning and worrying about her grandmother. In diary note two, Malithi writes, ‘Just yesterday, she forgot my father’s name too. This isn’t like her; I’ll tell Mother about it when she gets home.’
Offering reassuring notes and guidance for children on what to look out for in their loved ones who may have early signs of dementia, the book recommends parents and doctors as people a child can turn to with questions about it. Accompanying notes highlight facts, such as ‘forgetting familiar things or people can be a warning sign of dementia,’- helpful for those who might be struggling to understand dementia.
More scenarios such as ‘Going to the pola to buy fruits and vegetables,’ illustrate that things can happen at unexpected times, all the while using simple sentences and a comforting voice to guide them through it. ‘Broken Cups’ (diary note four), describes Malithi’s grandmother placing her cup on the edge of the table without realising the risk, showing the child that sometimes people with onset dementia have ‘difficulty judging distances and space.’
By entry note five, we gain a clearer understanding of the key signs that children can easily recognise in a family member with dementia. Illustrating other common occurrences with individuals in the initial stages of dementia, diary note six, titled ‘Spectacles in the fridge,’ demonstrates to a child that when belongings end up in strange places, it is another sign that all is not well.
Diary note nine illustrates what people can do when a loved one has dementia. One action could be encouraging them to wear an ID bracelet provided by the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation, which contains a name and number for easy identification, while informing a child that this is important for the safety of the person with dementia. Entry ten, ‘Understanding Dementia,’ explains clearly how a child can assist in their own way, those who may have dementia.
A number of Colombo schools such as Bishop’s College, Musaeus College, Lindsay Balika Vidyalaya and Asian International School among others have been given the book to further their students’ knowledge on dementia.
The book, priced at Rs. 500, is available at Sarasavi, Jam Fruit Tree, MILK, Lake View Ink, Pendi (at Racecourse) and Rithihi, and can also be purchased at Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation, 110, Ketawalamulla Lane, Colombo 10.
| BOOK FACTS | |
| Malithi’s Diary By Nimal Gunewardena and Romany Parakrama Published by Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation |
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