"The foundation for spiritual maturity is ethical conduct. In Eastern traditions people don't begin to meditate, to engage in exercises of introspection or study learned texts, until they show the virtues of honesty, discipline, humility, charity and right conduct." Dr. Joan Borysenko
What is ethical conduct for caregivers? It would seem that it needs to include ensuring the safety of the care receiver, maintaining health and nutrition within the parameters of the progressive illness of dementia, and treating the person with respect and dignity. Some people suggest it is also our responsibility to provide social opportunities and stimulation. Perhaps. Equally important to the ethical conduct to the care receiver is the ethical conduct toward ourselves. It is not possible for one person to provide safety, maintain health, and provide social opportunities and stimulation without it taking a toll on the caregiver's health and well being. We must decide what we want or feel we need to provide for the care receivers, but we must keep paramount our own health and well being. We have an ethical obligation to do so.
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