Image source: Teeside University
A team from Teeside University has created an online interactive tool to help children better understand when a relative develops dementia.
Named Grandad Forgot My Name, it has evolved from work by academics in the university’s School of Health and Life Sciences.
The tool provides different options to access information depending on whether it is done with a child, with someone who has a family member with dementia, an individual who has been diagnosed themselves or someone simply seeking to learn about the condition.
The main strand has interactive functions to personalise the story and help explain to children the impact that dementia might be having on the relative.
For families to access
Project lead Dr Rhys Williams, senior lecturer in forensic science, said: “We are sharing the free resources far and wide, in the local region and across the internet, so that it can be accessed by as many families and individuals as possible who it might help.”
Also involved in the project are Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali, senior lecturer in biomedical science, Natalie Blake, lecturer in games art, and Alexandra Hoekstra, forensic science student and artist.
Dr Williams added: “Our team has come together to produce storylines around key elements of dementia pastoral care. The artwork by Alexandra aimed to make the stories visually appealing and open to all readers. The responses we’ve received so far have been very positive.
“We aim to help provide information and interaction to help bridge that generational gap, developing a resource that is easy for children to access and understand.”
