by Roy Herndon Smith, PhD
Three sources of stress among disabled people and those who care for them are:
Impoverishment caused by the costs of providing adequate care
Isolation caused by the loss or weakening of ties to family members, friends and communities
Devaluation caused by others’ treatment of impoverished and isolated disabled people and those who care for them primarily as clients with needs, rather than as valuable persons
Care with disabled people that effectively addresses these sources of suffering requires the practice of:
Compassion (or empathy) with disabled people. For instance, compassion is the recognition that terror of losing control over one’s mind lies behind the rage that sometimes accompanies dementia.
Confirmation of their value, knowledge, skills, and care. For example, effective care with people suffering with dementia requires ongoing valuing of their
lives through evoking their memories and listening to their stories
wisdom through conversations in which one asks for and receives their insights
skills through setting up situations in which they can practice their abilities and teach others what they know
care through affirming their consideration and compassion for others
Community through maintaining and strengthening long-term bonds of mutual compassion, confirmation and help. For instance, effective care with people with dementia requires maintaining and strengthening their ongoing interactions with family members, friends, neighbors and community members whom they care for, value, enjoy and help and who care for, value, enjoy and help them.
Comments