Question 1

The Hartage Foundation Launches a New Children’s Book to Help Families Talk About Alzheimer’s

Accepted Answer

Inspired by a recent Kirkus Review, Homer L. Hartage offers families a clear, gentle way to explain memory loss to children before confusion turns into fear.

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Homer Hartage, Author
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ORLANDO, FL., When Alzheimer’s enters a family, adults often move quickly to doctor visits, care decisions, and daily support. Yet one difficult conversation is often delayed: how to explain memory loss to a child.
Author and professional guardian Homer L. Hartage is helping families approach that moment with his new picture book, The Memory Box and Charlotte’s Big Surprise. The book gives parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators a warm and practical way to talk with children about Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory changes.
The book recently received attention from Kirkus Reviews, which described it as “a sensitive and educational picture book” and said it “ultimately succeeds as a useful and compassionate explanation of Alzheimer’s for young readers.” The review also pointed to a common family challenge: many children are not prepared when someone they love begins to change because of memory loss.
Hartage wrote the book to meet that need directly.
“Most parents are not trying to hide the truth from their children,” said Hartage. “They are scared, overwhelmed, and unsure how much to say. They want to protect their child, but silence can create more confusion. This story gives families a safe place to begin.”
In The Memory Box and Charlotte’s Big Surprise, young readers follow Charlotte as she begins to notice changes in someone she loves. Instead of leaving children to guess what is happening, the story uses clear language, emotional reassurance, and a simple, hands-on activity to help them understand memory loss in a calm, caring way.
At the heart of the book is the Memory Box, an activity families can use to collect photos, keepsakes, stories, and familiar objects. The activity encourages children to stay connected with loved ones while giving adults a practical tool for conversation.
The story also includes a tender musical moment that shows how love, emotion, and familiar songs can still reach someone living with dementia. The book has been licensed to include lyrics from the American classic “Summertime,” with music and lyrics by George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin, and is licensed by Alfred Music.
“This licensing holds special meaning for the story,” said Hartage. “Music often reaches places words cannot. For many families living with Alzheimer’s, a song can bring comfort, recognition, and connection, even when memory begins to fade.”
Kirkus Reviews also noted the book’s heartwarming use of music, describing it as “a sweet and heartwarming moment&#8230; showcasing how the memories of those with dementia can be triggered by music.”
For Hartage, the purpose of the book is simple: help families stop avoiding the conversation and start it with care.
“This book gives families a starting point,” Hartage added. “It helps remove the fear of saying the wrong thing. Children do not need every medical detail. They need honesty, comfort, and a way to stay close to the people they love.”
Upcoming Orlando Launch Events
Book Launch Reception
Friday, June 5, 2026
Women’s History & Cultural Center
Orlando, Florida
Youth & Educator Creative Workshop Saturday, June 6, 2026 Featuring hands-on Memory Box activities and guided discussion
About the Author

Homer L. Hartage is an author, professional guardian, and President and CEO of AgedCare, a Florida-based guardianship organization. For more than 15 years, he has supported individuals and families through complex caregiving, guardianship, fiduciary, and family advocacy matters. His work focuses on dignity, preparation, and compassionate decision-making during life’s most difficult transitions.

Question 2

A Gentle Tool Helping Families Talk with Children About Memory Change

Accepted Answer

“The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise” Offers a Repeatable Way to Support Difficult Conversations
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Rachel M. Anderson, Publicist
952-240-2513
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By Rachel M. Anderson, Contributing Writer

(ORLANDO, FL) — “Why doesn’t Grandpa remember who I am anymore?”

It’s a question many parents fear—not because they don’t want to be honest, but because they don’t want to be frightening. As memory-related conditions become more common, families are increasingly faced with explaining changes to children who notice far more than adults expect.

That growing need is what inspired The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise, a children’s book by Florida-based author and professional guardian Homer Hartage. Unlike many children’s stories, the book is intentionally positioned as a repeatable tool—something families and educators can return to—designed to support calm, age-appropriate conversations over time.

Rather than treating memory change as a “one talk” topic, the book supports an approach many child-development experts recommend: honest language, steady reassurance, and permission for children to return to their questions as their understanding grows. The story introduces Charlotte, a young child who senses that visits with her beloved grandfather are no longer the same. The narrative models how children can ask questions, seek reassurance, and stay connected—without being pressured to “understand everything” in one sitting.

“This wasn’t meant to be a one-time story you read and put back on the shelf. Children don’t process change all at once. They return to it. They ask again.”

Central to the book is the concept of a Memory Box: a simple, tangible way for children to hold onto connection through photos, stories, and familiar rituals. The activity is meant to be guided by a parent, caregiver, teacher, or counselor—giving children a way to express feelings without being forced to explain everything verbally.

Hartage brings a unique perspective to the work. As a professional guardian, he supports individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss. Through that work, he noticed how often children are present during difficult transitions—and how often adults struggle with the same questions: What do we tell them? How do we keep children from blaming themselves?

A distinctive feature of The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise is its thoughtful use of the term Alzheimer’s disease, introduced briefly and gently in context. The story avoids medical detail and instead returns to what matters most to children: reassurance, connection, and love that remains even when remembering changes. The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise is scheduled for release on June 5, 2026, and will be available in hardcover and paperback formats.
			
Author Bio: Homer L. Hartage
Author, Professional Guardian, and Advocate
Homer L. Hartage is a recognized thought leader in the guardianship, fiduciary, and caregiving fields. A graduate of Seton Hall University with a degree in Psychology, Homer blends academic insight with over 15 years of hands-on experience in professional guardianship and conservatorship. His life’s work is dedicated to advocating for the well-being of vulnerable individuals and guiding families through complex life transitions with integrity and accountability.
A Distinguished Career in Service
Beyond his clinical work, Homer has built a legacy of public and community service. His professional milestones include:

Founding AgedCare: One of Florida’s most respected and trusted professional guardianship organizations.
Public Leadership: Serving as an Orange County Commissioner, where he championed local community interests.
Philanthropy: Establishing The Hartage Foundation, Inc. to further his mission of support and advocacy.
National Recognition: Receiving two Congressional Citations for his outstanding contributions to community service.

Authorship and Advocacy
Homer’s writing serves as a bridge between his decades of lived experience and the families he seeks to help. He is the author of the comprehensive resource Family and Professional Guardianship: A Complete Planning Guidebook for Adults and Children with Dementia, Alzheimer’s & Developmental Disabilities, as well as the engaging titles The Memory Box and Charlotte’s Big Surprise.
His forthcoming book, Parentification: Caregivers in Crisis, continues this vital mission by shedding light on the hidden challenges faced by families and young caregivers navigating the complexities of the caregiving system.

Question 3

When Grandpa Forgets: A New Children’s Book Helps Parents Find the Words

Accepted Answer

“The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise” Set for Release June 5, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Rachel M. Anderson, Publicist
952-240-2513
rachel@rmapublicity.com

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(ORLANDO, FL)  — The hardest parenting questions rarely show up at a convenient time. They arrive in the car after a visit, during bedtime, or while you’re trying to make dinner—when your child suddenly asks, “Why doesn’t Grandpa remember me?”

For parents, that moment can feel like a tightrope: you want to be honest, but not frightening; reassuring, but not dismissive. The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise was written for exactly that moment. It’s a children’s book created not just to tell a story, but to support a conversation—one families can return to gently as children’s questions and feelings evolve.

&#8220;Remembering may change, but love can still be real and present.&#8221;

The book follows Charlotte, a five-year-old who adores her grandfather—especially the small rituals that make her feel safe and loved. When Charlotte discovers that Grandpa can no longer remember her name, she feels the confusion and hurt many children experience when something changes in someone they love. With guidance from trusted adults, Charlotte learns a simple truth that helps children feel steady: remembering may change, but love remains.

A distinctive element of the book is that it uses the term Alzheimer’s disease—introduced briefly and carefully in child-appropriate language—so families who want to name what’s happening can do so without turning the moment into something clinical or overwhelming. The story quickly returns to what children need most: reassurance, connection, and a sense that they are not to blame.

At the heart of the book is the idea of a Memory Box—a child-centered way to hold onto connection through photos, stories, and familiar moments. It’s a gentle activity families can

Author Homer L. Hartage, a Florida-based professional guardian and longtime advocate for families navigating memory-related conditions, wrote the book after years of seeing how often children are present in these moments—and how often parents are left alone trying to “say it right.”

The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise will be available in hardcover and paperback beginning June 5, 2026.

Hartage is also the author of Family & Professional Guardianship, and his forthcoming trade book Parentification: Caregivers in Crises, which explores the hidden burden carried by children who assume adult responsibilities in families under stress.
			
About the Author
Homer L. Hartage is an author, professional guardian, and advocate based in Orlando, Florida. His work focuses on providing practical, compassionate tools that help families, educators, and professionals navigate vulnerable life transitions, especially those involving aging, memory change, and caregiving.

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