Hi..Last night I was mopping the floor when my mother, who has pretty advanced dementia, came to the door, where I was. Since I didn't want her to walk where it wasn't clean yet, I grabbed her hand and sent her back to the couch nearby, where she had been sitting earlier. I'm sure I didn't hurt her, but the fact that she wasn't 100% cooperative made me feel guilty afterward. Am I right to feel so? Thanks.
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Just a protective reflex on your part. She’s probably not teachable at this point but your reaction was appropriate. Possibly a combo of fear, annoyance and love.
edit. But if it made you feel bad, maybe next time wait until she’s in bed.
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No, no guilt required at all!!
My dad tends to sulk when redirected from a fixation or irrational objective, so the reduced cooperation may relate to feeling deprived more than any physical injury.
I would be more concerned if you didn't feel any pangs of remorse, so your acknowledgement will serve you well next time.
Your duty of care includes being the one to say no or intervening in certain behaviours that may be detrimental to their well being, as the capacity for judgement is often flawed.
At the same time, remembering their frailty can foster empathy for how hard it must be for them also to navigate what we often take for granted.
Your goal should not be to keep her happy at all cost because that cost will be very dear.