Alzheimer's Disease International website is a wonderful new resource "where people with dementia, care partners, professional care givers, medical professionals, Alzheimer's Associations and others can share experiences and ideas."
One example from this site comes from Dr. István Kappéter MD, special education and pedagogy psychology teacher from Hungary: Corvinus University, Budapest; Psychiatric Nursing Home in Tápiógyörgye. He has Lewy Body dementia since 1995 and Alzheimer’s disease since 2005.
"We have to get over the idea brought to us by people considering themselves as liberals, that being individuals, taking into consideration everyone’s wishes, feelings and personal interests is the most important thing. This idea was a logical reaction to the old feudalistic approach where everyone was instructed to live according to the orders made divine by different religions and churches. It is true that lack of liberty sets back growth, because it oppresses all initiative. But as it turns out, a wholly individualistic society sets back growth just the same. The more crafty and lucky can create an order, where they influence the markets and become distinctly more wealthy and powerful than others – they control power and are able to tell others how and what to do. I am convinced that in the – postindustrial – societies of the future, people with wealth and power above a limit should be obligated to use their resources and power in a way useful to all of humanity. One of the most important tasks for them is to organize the establishments allowing the living together of young and old people."
Clearly people with dementia can still have a great deal to teach the rest of us. And this is only way example.
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