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Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

nytimes.com

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Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#21

Post by WalterBright »

quetzlbazaar wrote: post #17
heavyset_go wrote: post #2

Antipsychotics are not something to be handed out like candy. They have serious, sometimes permanent and sometimes fatal, side effects in anyone of any age. The article notes how that class of medication increases mortality in elderly people in particular. The fact that some people were prescribed haloperidol as the first line of treatment instead of a newer, safer antipsychotics also blows my mind. I'm terrified of…

The solution in my opinion to this problem is to permit euthanasia and for assisted suicide to become culturally accepted as an alternative to a drawn out death of dementia in a care home. The quality of life for many (not all) care home residents who are on these sorts of drug regimens is dire and in reality not entirely for their benefit, as is apparent to everyone including those responsible for oversight like Med…

A nursing home around here for dementia runs $10,000 per month.

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#22

Post by pempem »

garmaine wrote: post #16
CincinnatiMan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do other cultures do for people who can no longer take care of themselves?

Live in multi-generational family units where the family shares responsibility for (and benefits from) their own elders.

It'd be remiss to not note most of the time in culture where multi generational family units are the norm, responsibility lands on women in the home or household support in extended families and the economy doesn't often require two incomes to be middle class.

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#24

Post by WalterBright »

CincinnatiMan wrote: post #13
wizwit999 wrote: post #9

One of the most disgusting parts of western culture is how they relegate their old to these nursing homes.

What do other cultures do for people who can no longer take care of themselves?

Nomadic tribes would simply leave them behind.

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#25

Post by smabie »

wizwit999 wrote: post #9

One of the most disgusting parts of western culture is how they relegate their old to these nursing homes.

Western countries don't have enough kids and strong enough family units (a bunch of relatives living in close proximity say), for this to work. I'm an only child and there's just no way I could have my parents live with me if they needed care.

Moreover, the elderly in 3rd world countries tend not to live as long, many of the old people in Western countries are.. for the lack of a better word, living far past their expiration date.

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#26

Post by QuarterReptile »

heavyset_go wrote: post #2

Antipsychotics are not something to be handed out like candy. They have serious, sometimes permanent and sometimes fatal, side effects in anyone of any age. The article notes how that class of medication increases mortality in elderly people in particular. The fact that some people were prescribed haloperidol as the first line of treatment instead of a newer, safer antipsychotics also blows my mind. I'm terrified of…

The truth we fail to face is that, in the grueling task of caring for the elderly and all the perverse incentives to cut corners, providing holistic care is an enormous labor of love that will tend to not work well outside of family, despite all the money we throw at it.

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#27

Post by symlinkk »

garmaine wrote: post #16
CincinnatiMan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do other cultures do for people who can no longer take care of themselves?

Live in multi-generational family units where the family shares responsibility for (and benefits from) their own elders.

You can do that in America. People don’t do it because they don’t want to. Would you enjoy living with your parents again?

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#28

Post by tyoma »

wizwit999 wrote: post #9

One of the most disgusting parts of western culture is how they relegate their old to these nursing homes.

The patients in the article have dementia, which requires all day care, often by a professional. Where else would the elderly receive such care?

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#29

Post by koolba »

heavyset_go wrote: post #2

Antipsychotics are not something to be handed out like candy. They have serious, sometimes permanent and sometimes fatal, side effects in anyone of any age. The article notes how that class of medication increases mortality in elderly people in particular. The fact that some people were prescribed haloperidol as the first line of treatment instead of a newer, safer antipsychotics also blows my mind. I'm terrified of…

> I'm terrified of growing old in this country.

Have kids, raise them right, and you’ll be fine. It’s worked out pretty well for a couple thousand years.

Re: Phony diagnoses hide high rates of drugging at nursing homes

#30

Post by ctoth »

quetzlbazaar wrote: post #17
heavyset_go wrote: post #2

Antipsychotics are not something to be handed out like candy. They have serious, sometimes permanent and sometimes fatal, side effects in anyone of any age. The article notes how that class of medication increases mortality in elderly people in particular. The fact that some people were prescribed haloperidol as the first line of treatment instead of a newer, safer antipsychotics also blows my mind. I'm terrified of…

The solution in my opinion to this problem is to permit euthanasia and for assisted suicide to become culturally accepted as an alternative to a drawn out death of dementia in a care home. The quality of life for many (not all) care home residents who are on these sorts of drug regimens is dire and in reality not entirely for their benefit, as is apparent to everyone including those responsible for oversight like Med…

Okay, let's assume we do exactly what you outlined there. In 2031, do you not expect to read an exposé on how many "care home" residents are being pressured into signing euthanasia papers without understanding what they're doing? How do we avoid that world?
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