Teens with parents who have early onset dementia can tap into Baycrest website
Teenagers coping with the parents experiencing early onset dementia can now go online for answers and support, thanks to a website developed by North York’s Baycrest Health Sciences.
Teenagers coping with the parents experiencing early onset dementia can now go online for answers and support, thanks to a website developed by North York’s Baycrest Health Sciences.
The website, available in English, French and Chinese, is called Dementia is in the House.
Baycrest, a world leader in research on the aging brain, has developed the resource for teenagers dealing with anger, confusion and frustration as their middle-aged parents experience behavioural changes associated with early onset dementia.
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In treating the parents, behavioural neurologist Dr. Tiffany Chow realized the teens needed support.
At the same time, she was impressed by their openness to change and their capacity to care for their parents, she said in a statement.
In 2011, Chow partnered with Katherine Nichols, a Hawaiian writer whose husband developed early onset dementia, to create an English-language website.
But she wanted to reach into other cultures and teamed up with Montreal’s Dr. Howard Chertkow and Hong Kong’s Dr. Andrew Law to develop French and Chinese translations.
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Chow is currently seeking funding for a Spanish translation.
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