Communication Across Generations
If you’re raising children or helping care for grandchildren, a conversation with your family about MCI can help everyone understand which responsibilities you can keep handling and where you might need backup, says Sarah E. Patterson, PhD, a demographer, sociologist, and research assistant professor at the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
By proactively coming up with a plan together as a family, before many noticeable changes, you can keep things on track, says Lang.
Teenagers Teens often notice when a parent or grandparent forgets things or isn’t showing up in the same way, so it may be a good idea to explain what’s going on, says Lang. She suggests telling them you need their help with reminders, “because I want to still be there for you and still show up for the after-school activities.”
“I think parents should feel free to be honest and open with their kid about what is happening,” says Dr. Patterson. That includes being clear about the ways your teen can still count on you and where you may need their help staying organized, she says.
It can also help to connect teens with other kids whose parents face similar health challenges, so they know they aren’t alone, she adds.
Young children may not fully comprehend a diagnosis, but they may understand more than you think, and they may want to help, says Lang. Whatever their age, kids need to hear that your love for them hasn’t changed, she says.
“It’s important that they understand that, yes, it’s a diagnosis, but it’s not going to define me. It’s not going to change our relationship, how much I love you, how much I’m going to take care of you,” says Lang.
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