tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218782774000780422.post2408151581672128363..comments2023-09-28T10:07:00.072-05:00Comments on michael a. horvich cares about alzheimer's disease: To Use or Not To Use DrugsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218782774000780422.post-54917650128651392792015-06-09T10:31:16.454-05:002015-06-09T10:31:16.454-05:00I failed to mention that there are a few RCAs with...I failed to mention that there are a few RCAs with whom Gregory does not get along. They do not take it personally and avoid helping him if possible. We are fortunate to be at a facility that is a not for profit, religious based (although non-denominational acceptance and care) organization whose bottom line besides having to operate in the black is to provide loving, best practices care.Michael Horvichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07128713159608301788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218782774000780422.post-60869598092174672402015-06-09T10:23:30.914-05:002015-06-09T10:23:30.914-05:00Thanks Susan. I appreciate your lengthy thoughts a...Thanks Susan. I appreciate your lengthy thoughts and honesty in reply. Yes the use of Risperdal for Gregory was after much study, discussion, and as a last resort. I agree with everything you said: shouldn't be first resort, decision must be made with awareness and love especially if person can no longer make decisions for themselves, many places do take advantage of the use of drugs to make their job easier (which while totally wrong I have to admit it is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world.) I will not question ethics or honor but there is a lot that could be discussed I am sure. Do not know about elevated costs as fortunately Gregory's medications are paid by his health care. The caregivers at Lieberman are well trained and supervised so I am fortunate here. Manny, our private pay person, is in with Gregory when they change him. He just cannot operate the lift but can assist and is a calming, friendly face. According to him when Gregory is loudly verbal during a change, most of it is due to his fears and physical discomfort, some is "just in his head," But then again he is a tall, strong man so even with care he has the right to be upset because getting cleaned up is an ordeal no matter how gingerly it is approached. The only reason I am supportive of drug use stands firmly on its being, as you say, carefully examined, assessed, and as much as possible curbed. We are not only on the same side of the fence, we are sitting next to each other on shared rockers!Michael Horvichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07128713159608301788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218782774000780422.post-13182738729835146792015-06-08T22:59:14.263-05:002015-06-08T22:59:14.263-05:00Michael, I respect your ability to make Appropria...Michael, I respect your ability to make Appropriate choices with respect to Gregory's care as well as appropriate choices with respect to the administration of drugs with respect to Gregory's care. It sounds like you have done everything possible to avoid their use.<br /><br />Where I object to the use of drugs, and antipsychotics in particular, is in them being administered to people as a first choice in addressing "problematic" responsive behaviors that may have been avoided by more carefully assessing and addressing potential environmental and care delivery factors that may have resulted in the problematic response behaviors in the first place.<br /><br />I believe antipsychotic drugs should be used only after every possible other avenue has been explored because in my experience these drugs are being administered in an irresponsible way that endangers people with dementia who are vulnerable and unable to make their own decisions.<br /><br />Further, I believe that many care facilities, and I'm not in any way implicating any specific facility, I'm just saying that many facilities overmedicate their residents to reduce costs and the burden on care staff the number of whom are often insufficient to properly care for the patient population within the facility.<br /><br />I am further investigating prescription rates of Risperdal and Seroquel in Canada and my preliminary research indicates to me that the rates of prescription of antipsychotic drugs to the elderly or those with dementia at a young age is far above what it should be.<br /><br /> my experience is that caregivers are not properly supervised and monitored with respect to how they interact with people with dementia. You yourself said in a previous post that you are not present in the room when Gregory is attended and his personal hygiene requirements are addressed. So how do you know whether the caregivers use tools and techniques during the process that would minimize and mitigate "resistive behaviors."?<br /><br />My experience is that people have told me my mother is violently aggressive. Butt she is never violently aggressive with me. Nor is she violently aggressive with her one-on-one caregivers. So why is she is never violently aggressive with us, and violently aggressive with others?<br /><br />It sounds to me that you have taken responsible and conscientious approach.<br /><br />However, that said, I tend to trust my own observations than I do that of others.<br /><br /> Perhaps we on the same side of the fence, but I think the use of antipsychotic medication in elderly people needs to be carefully examined, assessed, and quite frankly, curbed.AmazingSusanhttp://myalzheimersstory.com/noreply@blogger.com