Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s provides intergenerational education and support through a digital video series, picture book, and blog, empowering children and families with tools, activities, and guidance to build connection, create JOYful memories, and safely engage in caregiving. The result is a dignity-first, calm home environment.
The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Program (MMAP)
The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Program is a family-centered, intergenerational education and support program designed to help families navigate Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia with confidence, compassion, and connection.
We provide practical, dignity-first tools that help children, parents, caregivers, and adult day and care communities understand the disease, communicate more easily, and stay meaningfully connected throughout the journey—from diagnosis through the later stages of care.
At its core, the program helps families create calm, supportive environments while preserving the most important part of caregiving: relationship and JOY.
What The MMAP Offers
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Disease Picture Book and Story Song
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Disease Picture Book is an Alzheimer’s awareness book for kids. It's the perfect introduction to Alzheimer’s disease for young children. A free download of the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song included with the book as a QR code makes learning about the disease fun and distinguishes it from all other children’s books about Alzheimer’s. 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 must figure out how to help her Gran. In terms children can understand, the story brings to awareness many aspects of Alzheimer’s, and other types of dementia, such as memory loss, anger, frustration, fear, and putting things in strange places.
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Blog & Family Resources
Downloadable tools and guides support everyday caregiving with stage-based tips, activities, communication strategies for children, and ideas for holidays and family engagement. They also include resources for fostering compassion, empathy, purpose, and gratitude, exploring career paths, creating structure and calm, and a caregiver identification checklist.
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Awareness Program (MMAAP)
The MMAAP is a digital 5-video educational series that walks children and their families through each stage of Alzheimer’s, offering clear guidance, age-appropriate explanations for children, and practical strategies for caregivers. It includes a quick reference guide, transcripts, and accessible audio/visual supports for a range of learning needs.
Why The MMAP Was Created
The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Program was developed because too many families want to stay connected with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or any type of dementia but aren’t sure what to say or do—especially when children are involved. MMAP bridges that gap by giving families simple, supportive tools that make interactions less stressful and more meaningful, while helping children feel included, informed, and emotionally safe.
Benefits For Families And Care Communities
The program is designed for use at home as well as in Adult Day and Memory Care communities. It provides a ready-to-use family education resource that:
- Reduces repetitive staff explanations
- Supports consistent family education
- Helps children understand dementia in age-appropriate ways
- Encourages meaningful interaction between residents and families
- Frees staff to focus more on care and connection
Here’s What Makes The MMAP Unique
- A multi-media approach combining video, story, music, and print
- Designed for all ages—from toddlers through adults
- Supports families across all stages of Alzheimer’s
- Accessible for diverse learning needs, including visual and hearing impairments
- Engages both children and adults in shared understanding
- Focuses on connection, dignity, and emotional well-being
Our Mission
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's exists to empower children and their families with simple, practical, and compassionate tools that foster understanding, meaningful connections, and more JOYful moments through every stage of Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.