The Personal Nature of Personhood

Even if he doesn’t remember later what he chose, the important thing is at that moment you have respected him and dignified him by showing that you think enough of him to ask. That is the meaning of Personhood.By +Carole Larkin+Alzheimer's Reading RoomCarole LarkinA note to readers: down below is email thatwas sent to me shortly after the article Personhood – Compassionate Dementia Care was published here.The author of the email, who will remain anonymous, has graciously permitted me to publish her letter as a way to clarify my meaning of Personhood to everyone reading here.In return I am giving her a short “Consult” (the service I perform for clients nationwide, when accessed through my website, www.thirdageservices.com).Here is her email: I just read your article on Alzheimer’s Reading Room and applaud your approach and your work. And, I have to ask this question because it is important to so many of us in my group. Personally, to become self-less do I have to stop being a part-time minister, doing my writing, having lunch with friends, and reading things I love and having people over? Really?I can’t think for one minute of myself, who I am, at all?I have to become totally self-less?I ask this, not out of anger, but out of frustration and a deep longing to put at least one activity back into my life to balance the rest of it – including poop and pee issues and all the rest.I never thought of myself as a caregiver as I just don’t have that in me.So...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Dementia Authors: Source Type: blogs