Did you know that educating your child on Alzheimer's disease may give them a sense of purpose?
Check out our PDF and video with Information, Tips and Activities on the importance of having a purpose.
Get PDF and Video Here
The Caregiver's Advocate
is a collaborative book. Each chapter includes a story from the author's caregiving experience followed by a strategy for caregiving. The book covers all aspects of caregiving that overlap for several types of diagnoses.
A QR code is provided in the end for the list of resources in the Resources Section.
Brenda Freed contributed Chapter 10: The Alzheimer's Conversation: Why and How to Include Children.
Purchase Book Here
Who are Alder Allensworth & Brenda Freed?
The inspiration for this Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s project came from Alder Allensworth’s personal experience watching her Mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease, interact with her grandchildren (Alder's nieces and nephews). Alder invited Brenda Freed, her music therapy internship colleague from 1979, to join her in creating a toolkit for families living with Alzheimer’s. Together, they have over 40 years of experience serving families, children, and people with Alzheimer’s or any type of dementia on both a professional and personal level.
They combined their skills in music therapy, counseling, education, writing, publishing, songwriting and recording, to co-create the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Awareness Program (MMAAP) and Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Disease Picture Book. The MMAAP provides information, tips and activities to help families have meaningful interactions with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s, create positive memories, and successfully incorporate children into the care.
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Awareness Program
a digital video-based program equipping children & families with information, tips & activities to create positive memories with their loved one who has Alzheimer’s or any type of dementia
Dr. Susan Steen, MD, Neurologist with Axiom Brain Health, a company that conducts clinical studies in brain health and screens people for Alzheimer’s, reviewed the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Awareness Program and said it's “really great for families with children."
Scroll down for:
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Awareness Program components, an opportunity to purchase the MMAAP or schedule a webinar, testimonials from professionals, the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Picture Book with a link to the free animated story song video, and definition of "Agape" used in the story song.
The
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's
Awareness Program
Effective for all types of dementia
for the initial
launch price of
$47.00
Children and families gain access to:
💜 The five videos in the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Educational Video Series. Each video has an educational component and suggests fun activities for children and families to do with a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease. Videos include:
- What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- Mild Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Moderate Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Severe Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Coping with Alzheimer's Disease for the Responsible Adult with Children
BONUSES
💜 Download of the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Quick Reference Guide, with easily accessible information about activities to do at any stage of the disease
💜 Download of the animated Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song Video
💜 Download of the animated Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song Lyric Video, especially beneficial for early readers
💜 Download of the audio Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song, with written lyrics, so listeners can enJOY the song anywhere
The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Educational Program is presented solely as an educational program, and in no way takes the place of a medical diagnosis, treatment or therapy.
The Mackenzie Meets
Alzheimer's Awareness
Program for People with
Hearing Impairments
Effective for all types of dementia
for the initial
launch price of
$47.00
People with Hearing Impairments gain access to:
💜 Written transcripts with "Next Slide" indicated, making it easy to follow the five videos in the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Educational Video Series:
- What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- Mild Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Moderate Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Severe Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Coping with Alzheimer's Disease for the Responsible Adult with Children
BONUSES
💜 Download of the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Quick Reference Guide, with easily accessible information about activities to do at any stage of the disease
💜 Download of the animated Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song Lyric Video
💜 Download of the animated Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Disease Story Song Video
💜 Download of the audio Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song, with written lyrics, so readers can enJOY the story anywhere
The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Educational Program is presented solely as an educational program, and in no way takes the place of a medical diagnosis, treatment or therapy.
The
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's
Awareness Program for the Curious Adult
Effective for all types of dementia
for the initial
launch price of
$37.00
For adults who don't have children or grandchildren, and who want to learn more about Alzheimer's or any type of dementia:
💜 Four videos in the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Educational Video Series. Each video has an educational component and suggests fun activities for children and families to do with a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease. Videos include:
- What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- Mild Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Moderate Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Severe Stage Alzheimer's Disease
BONUSES
💜 Download of the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Quick Reference Guide, with easily accessible information about activities to do at any stage of the disease
💜 Download of the animated Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song Video
💜 Download of the animated Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song Lyric Video, especially beneficial for early readers
💜 Download of the audio Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song, with written lyrics, so listeners can enJOY the song anywhere
The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Educational Program is presented solely as an educational program, and in no way takes the place of a medical diagnosis, treatment or therapy.
Webinars
Host or attend a live online webinar to:
💜 Learn more about Alzheimer's disease
💜 Learn about activities you can do with your loved one who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia
💜 Acquire techniques to cope with the stress of caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia
💜 Get answers to your questions that will help you and your family enJOY time spent with your loved one who has Alzheimer's disease
Contact us for more information about upcoming events, or hosting your own event.
Testimonials
See what professionals and caregivers are saying about the
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Awareness Program.
Jean Ryan
Columbia, Missouri
“My husband and I have been married 60 years and he now has dementia and multiple health issues. He has had mild dementia for the last year. I am his primary caretaker and we live with our daughter and her family. This Program is great! You have hit a 10! I LOVE the song. I watched, listened and read through the whole program. I have never heard of a program for children and their families like this. I liked the Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease for the Responsible Adult with Children video. The way things are explained and the suggestions on what to tell children are really excellent. I am going to recommend this program to my daughter for my youngest grandchildren, and to my grandchildren for my great grandchildren (six of them under the age of 8). I am also going to recommend the program to the Truman VA hospital in Columbia Missouri where they have a memory care program. My daughter-in-law is a nurse with an assisted living company and I’m going to recommend this program to her also.”
Jack Swanson, MD,
Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Care,
Oconto, Wisconsin
"I reviewed the videos & reference material. Wow! This program is excellent! Well done! Great job explaining the stages of the disease. The concepts are presented and explained in a very clear, effective way. This information speaks well to other types of dementia that cause mental decline such as lewy body dementia, or parkinson’s disease. This program would be very helpful for friends and families of patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia or in hospice care. It's easy for kids and adults to understand. I highly recommend this program."
Sue Ryan, TEDx, MS, ICF, NLP, ILEC, 3-time international best-selling author, Caregiving Industry Influencer
Naples, Florida
The educational video series in the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Awareness Program is a gift to families who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and children who are experiencing the changes in, for example, their grandparents. The Program equips children and the responsible adults ‘sandwiched’ between caring for their children and their loved one to responsibly navigate the disease.
For children, it’s a valuable blend of the following: Alzheimer’s education offered at a level young people can understand; suggestions for activities families can do together with the loved one who has the disease; being open about the challenges of the disease; giving children permission to feel emotions including anger, fear, confusion and sadness, and helping them appropriately express those emotions. The graphics in the videos beautifully reflect the information presented.
The video for the responsible adult is powerful! It’s filled with education as well as detailed examples for how they can provide family Alzheimer’s support for both the loved one with Alzheimer’s disease AND their children.
The Quick Reference Guide is a great bonus. It’s a high-level summary of key points from the videos including tips for interacting with the person who has Alzheimer’s disease, and tips for talking with children about the disease. As Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s explains: “Refer to this guide to help you understand the behavior of a person with Alzheimer’s disease, help your child understand that person, and easily access fun activities for your child (and you) to do to successfully interact and maintain a relationship with that person.”
The animated video for early readers is a fun children’s video creatively and beautifully designed to introduce them to the disease, what they may experience, and to feel love throughout the journey. The artwork is great and the music is engaging. I was tremendously impressed with how the story song shared with honesty about the disease, wove love through all of it, and helped the ‘monster’ of Alzheimer’s disease be less scary. I watched the video several times. It can easily be broken down into small segments for children to watch a little at a time – well done.
David's Ducks for Dementia
Serenity Drum, LCSW Therapist
Blanco, TX
“What a catchy informative story line for kids and adults to better understand this challenging disease! Really quite brilliant! The Program is particularly helpful for people dealing with Alzheimer’s or dementia for the first time. The videos do a great job of explaining what Alzheimer’s is in a way that is understandable for children and adults alike, with insightful descriptions of the stages and activities that can be done with a loved one across the disease progression. I will be referring the Program to families to help them cope with this disease.”
Maggie Rodgers, MT-BC
Overland Park, Kansas
“These videos are great! The song is catchy and singable from the get go. The videos address so many issues in a gentle, caring, and loving way. The lists of activities are complete and easy to understand for the non-medical person. The world needs this explanation of Alzheimer's that’s easy to understand, and ways the family can cope with the person who has the disease. You have done a fabulous job explaining difficult situations in such tender ways,
and listing what to expect in the various stages of the disease. The videos are truthful, with loving guidance.
Working with people in all stages of Alzheimer's disease, as I do as a music therapist, can be trying. However, I have found that everyone responds to love, music, and respect, and I treasure the outcomes when these are applied. It still blows my mind every time someone goes from a blank look or angry look to a bright smile and sometimes singing along with four verses of hymn without prompt. Music is the key!! Thanks for making LOVE the theme.”
Shawn Buller, MM
Miami, Florida
This video series is a great package of information at your fingertips! It offers easy to understand information for persons of any age who are unfamiliar with Alzheimer’s disease. I am impressed with the personal manner in which the material is presented on such a complex topic. I appreciated how stages of Alzheimer’s disease were presented in an easy and engaging format.
Now let’s talk about that song! The original song is so catchy. It embraces our natural desire for fulfilling human interaction, and the much-needed interaction for the individual with Alzheimer’s. The song supports the activities and ideas given throughout the video series, and how these simple activities can be so valuable to both the child and the family member with the diagnosis.
My own experience with Alzheimer’s comes from the many years I worked in long term care facilities as a music therapist. I saw first-hand how music and singing can successfully engage family members, both young and old, as well as staff members too! The information in this video series offers more ideas beyond music and singing. It truly is a useful educational program for families and loved ones of all ages.
Teresa Kenas
Hudson, New York
I just listened to all the videos and they are fantastic! You guys did such an excellent job. I even cried a little bit as it reminded me of my aunt. I can honestly say I wish these videos were available back then, even though I know what I know.
They're so supportive and I know will be valuable to many people. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Nathan Kiptoo
Nairobi County, Kenya
I must say this was an incredible learn! Viva! Brenda and Alder for the educational program content that you supplied on this website. I have learnt new techniques and skills that I will apply while training fellow colleagues and as well for personal use. Thank you
Terri Olson, MPH, RN
San Diego, CA
I had the opportunity to review the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Awareness Program. I highly recommend the program for anyone caring for, or having contact with a close relative/friend diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia of any kind. The material is easy to understand, accurate and relevant for an audience of children and adults. It provides useful information about the disease as well as providing many wonderful examples of activities for engaging with the person with dementia. Some of the material is especially targeted for children (the musical and animated videos,) but the material is appropriate for all ages. I have already recommended the Program to two of my friends who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease.
Click the book cover below to watch the free animated video for the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song that comes as a free download with the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Picture Book.
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Picture Book
Seven-year-old Mackenzie has always depended on her Gran for fun, help, love and understanding. She learns from her parents that her Gran has Alzheimer’s disease and may start acting strange. Now the tables are turned and Mackenzie has to figure out how to help her Gran.
The story brings to awareness many aspects of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia such as memory loss, anger, frustration and fear in terms children can understand. A free download of the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song included with the book purchase makes learning about the disease fun. Also included is a special discount code to receive 50% off the digital, video-based Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Awareness Program that suggests activities from diagnosis through the severe stage.
There are several ways you can use the book as a tool to introduce your child to Alzheimer’s disease.
- You can sit together and read the book. It is written using words that a very young child can understand.
- You can download the song onto your favorite listening device and follow along with the book as you all listen to the song.
- You can have fun singing along as you follow along in the book.
- Encourage your children to draw monsters on the blank pages in the back of the book to help them cope with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s, that thonky disease.
The book is available on Amazon in either ebook or paperback form.
Praise for the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Picture Book
Robin Leigh, LCSW
Social Worker and retired Librarian
Charlotte, NC
Fear is a normal, yet scary aspect of childhood. In "Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease," a picture book, Mackenzie is used to having her fears comforted by her Gran singing a song composed just for her. But when Gran starts to behave strangely due to Alzheimer's disease, Mackenzie is unsure of how to help grandmother. Allensworth and Freed have created a joyfully illustrated picture book, which can be used on its own or with its companion video program. This book speaks to the child's perspective and answers the concerns of children while helping the entire family stay connected during changes in their loved one. Fills a gap in educational storybooks for families to share and discuss.
The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song in the FREE animated video uses the word 'agape' in the chorus.
agape - pronounced ä-ˈgä-pā
History and Etymology for Agape
Adjective or adverb or noun borrowed from Late Latin agapē, borrowed from Greek agápē "brotherly love," back-formation from agapân "to regard with affection, be fond of, be contented (with)" or agapázein "to welcome warmly," perhaps from a base *aga-pā- "lavish protection, attention or affection (on)," literally, "protect greatly," going back to Indo-European *m̥ǵh2- "large, great" + *peh2- "protect"
