In these days of constant change the fact that so many people have such a depth and length of life experience is to be cherished. It is a huge asset.
The Golden Rule should inform all our dealings with the oldest members of our society. But while all of us have been younger than we are now, none of us have been older, and so do not know from our own experience how they would like to be treated, we can only guess. So we must ask!
We must consult the older people in our families and neighbourhoods, our hospitals, care homes and churches. When dealing with older people with dementia we must make the greatest efforts to find out what lifts their spirits and avoid what crushes them – the “do as you would be done by” Golden Rule in this context involves a leap of imagination and a firm commitment to compassionate care.
Mary Moffett
