How one caregiver handles insensitive questions
February 5th, 2008
Here’s a video from Leeza Gibbons’ “Health Corner” on Lifetime TV:
They may not necessarily mean to be unkind, but people around a child with disabilities may make insensitive comments or ask inappropriate questions sometimes. How do you deal with that?
Meet Johanna, whose 4-year-old son Jack has Down’s Syndrome and Alopecia. Many people, especially children, ask questions out of curiosity. Sometimes she’s happy to educate and enlighten others – other times, it’s very trying. She worries that Jack can understand comments people make around him.
Through it all, Jack has proved a blessing for her, and his special situation has taught her some things, too.
Gibbons talks about her family’s experience as her mother developed Alzheimer’s disease. Her father had cards to distribute: “My wife has a memory disorder. Please be patient.”
See also:
- Leeza’s Ten Commandments of Caregiving (Examples: Do not take anything personally. Do not fall prey to shame and stigma. Find humor in many places.)
- Entertainer Leeza Gibbons named to key Alzheimer’s post

