Gift of Giving

1. 

   "It is when you give of yourself that you are truly giving." Kahlil Gibran
   
   Other than parenting, there may be no other task in which one gives so fully of oneself than in caregiving.  That is self evident, but, what does that giving look like?  I have seen caregivers slap the hands of their care receivers or argue with them.  We are all human and have limited patience, but if you frequently lose patience with your loved one, then it is time to look for more respite for yourself.  Even staff in facilities can be seen arguing with residents.  Pointless and perhaps even harmful.  What arrogance to think that we know the only reality.  With the visual hallucinations that accompany Lewy Bodies Dementia, their hallucinations are as real to them as you and I are sitting in front of them.  It is pointless, and disrespectful, to argue with what they believe they have experienced or are experiencing.  The better thing is to redirect, divert their attention to something of common interest, engage them in some activity.