"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." Aristotle
Knowing oneself is important in navigating life in general, and critical in the life of a caregiver. There will be people with strong feelings about how care is provided for the person with dementia. We have to know ourselves to know what is right for us. Of course, we will keep in mind the best interest of the care receiver; in fact, I think the best intention to have is to want and intend the best and the highest possible for all concerned. That is the optimal place from which to make decisions: what is the best and highest choice, among the options, for everyone involved? If it has been your habit to make decisions in this way, you may in the past have discussed with those others involved what they thought was best. Depending on the type of dementia of the person for whom you provide care, you probably will not be able to discuss what is best with him or her. So, decisions now will be more autocratic, with still keeping what is best for them, us and everyone in mind. Our decisions are best when they reflect what we truly believe is best for everyone involved. When our decisions are made from this orientation, we can rest assured that we have made the most loving decision possible.
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