As humans we live through and with our relationships with others. Whether we like it or not, there are connections and interdependence with others throughout our lives. We rely on others, just as they rely on us - we are partners.
Who are some of the individuals who are the lost important and valuable in your relationships? Some of these people are supportive and friendly; others are on-again/off-again. And a third group brings peace and tranquility with an occasional upheaval. I guess that latter pretty well describes family. Family members are most likely there when you need them and supportive in many ways, but often these same people can be overbearing and bossy. They believe they know best even though the ultimate decision is really outside of their realm and within the grasp of the person of concern. An individual with dementia is frequently left out of the decision-making process, primarily because of a belief that since s/he cannot make every choice with wisdom, this same person is incapable of making any decision. This simply is not true.
Even within forgetfulness, a person with dementia is still a person, a viable human being with feelings and thoughts and concerns. Including each individual in conversations and activities is right. Yes, forethought and planning are essential such as one-on-one chatting in a quiet locale as opposed to a crowd of blathering in a noisy venue or a slow stroll around the park rather than a stomp through the mall. This, I believe, is just common sense.
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