When Jose Angel Hernandez began working with families living with dementia, he noticed one of the people struggling most often wasn’t the patient
It wasn’t even the caregiver
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It was the grandchildren
Some didn’t understand why their grandparent suddenly forgot their names or repeated the same stories. Others mistook the changes for unusual behavior and didn’t know how to respond
Rather than writing another medical guide, Hernandez decided to tell the story through a child’s eyes
The Laredo dementia specialist recently published “Visiting My Silly Grandma: A Story About Alzheimer’s,” a children’s book designed to help families begin conversations about Alzheimer’s disease in a way young readers can understand
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“It’s about a young boy who’s visiting his grandma,” Hernandez said. “He’s seeing that his grandma’s behaving differently, and in his mind, he’s seeing that his grandma’s being silly.”
As the story unfolds, the boy begins to understand that his grandmother’s behavior is the result of Alzheimer’s disease rather than intentional forgetfulness, helping him better understand what many families experience every day
After spending more than a decade working as a physical therapist assistant in home health, Hernandez earned a master’s degree focused on dementia and aging studies. He later founded Chrysalis Aging LLC, a business dedicated to educating families and caregivers about supporting loved ones living with dementia while helping them navigate the challenges that often accompany the disease
Hernandez said many educational ressionals or adult caregivers and often rely on complex medical terminology. He wanted to create something that children could understand without feeling overwhelmed
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The idea also came from conversations outside the clinic. Hernandez recalled a friend struggling to explain the death of a grandparent to a child, prompting him to think about how families introduce difficult topics to children
The concept continued to evolve through his experience teaching physical therapy at Laredo College over the years. Because older adults make up a large share of patients receiving physical therapy, discussions about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease frequently became part of his lectures. During one class, students shared that they often didn’t know how to interact with grandparents living with dementia when visiting them at home. Some admitted they felt hesitant because they didn’t understand why their loved ones behaved differently.
“Some of them said that they were even scared or hesitant to talk to them,” Hernandez said. “Maybe there’s something I can do. At the very least, help start those conversations.”
Hernandez said those conversations reinforced the need for more accessible educational materials, especially in Laredo, where dementia affects a significant number of families and community re
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Writing the book, however, proved easier than publishing it
The project took about two years to complete. Hernandez wrote the story, sketched each illustration by hand and enlisted members of his family to help bring it to life. His mother, Evangelina Hernandez, colored the drawings with colored pencils, while his sister, Selena Hernandez, digitally refined the artwork and helped prepare it for publication through Amazon
Although the story itself spans only about 15 pages, Hernandez said finding the right balance took time
“It had to be educational, it couldn’t demean the person with dementia, and it had to be targeted toward children,” he said
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Now that the book has been published, Hernandez hopes it becomes more than just another title on a bookshelf
He plans to donate copies as soon as he receives more shipments to Laredo Public Library branches so families can borrow the book free of charge, saying access to educational re
“I’m a firm believer that education and re
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More information about Hernandez, Chrysalis Aging LLC and its dementia education services is available at chrysalisaging.com. Hernandez can also be reached by phone at 956-441-6118. Copies of “Visiting My Silly Grandma” are available through Amazon
