tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post3037510331808764439..comments2024-03-27T13:48:27.538+00:00Comments on HyperCRYPTICal: Hanging The Elderly Demented Out To Dry and Jailing GPshyperCRYPTICalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11967085628384237933noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-3266551742646910212011-11-23T11:22:07.405+00:002011-11-23T11:22:07.405+00:00Thank you for your kind comments Brian and Dave an...Thank you for your kind comments Brian and Dave and apologies for delay in responding - chronic PC problems continue (and even a kindly loaned laptop (which I am using now) was ignored by the remote computer from Friday until now!)<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />Anna :o]hyperCRYPTICalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11967085628384237933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-69529936273076006742011-11-20T10:16:22.635+00:002011-11-20T10:16:22.635+00:00That could have been my Granddad. We lived with hi...That could have been my Granddad. We lived with him until pernicious anaemia (and the hospital drugs) destroyed his mind. I only saw him once after that - I was very young and not allowed to go again - but I've never forgotten the experience. You convey the essence of the fear and horror very well.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-21452770948882035202011-11-19T18:07:16.861+00:002011-11-19T18:07:16.861+00:00ugh...this is one thing i fear...losing my mind......ugh...this is one thing i fear...losing my mind...cant imagine though my mom is getting up there and may have to deal with this yet...you capture the tension and feel of it well in this...Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-86869542959523786522011-11-17T20:16:52.601+00:002011-11-17T20:16:52.601+00:00Thanks for your kind comments folks and apologies ...Thanks for your kind comments folks and apologies for delay in replying - other things got in the way (including chronic PC problems).<br /><br />Northern Teacher ~ The Cockroach Catcher has kindly provided my planned response to you!<br /><br />There is also a presumption that 120,000 are receiving antipsychotics who shouldn't be. How on earth did they arrive at this figure?<br /><br />Frances ~ To me, it is a sad state of affairs that the elderly demented psychotic patient has to exist in a world of sheer hell, merely on the diktat of those who follow the whims of fashions (thanks CC) in medicine.<br /><br />My heart goes out to your uncle and I sincerely hope he has more dreams than nightmares.<br /><br />Addy ~ Thank you my friend and I hope your daughter is enjoying her placement. We have much to learn from our elders and they deserve our respect.<br /><br />Dr phil ~ I am glad that you agree with my views. Regrettably, it appears that some GPs regard psychosis in the elderly as caused by lack of attention from those who work in care homes or that psychosis could somehow be 'cured' by 1-1. I wish they would spend a day with us!<br /><br />Arnab ~ Thank you.<br /><br />Jenny ~ As you rightly say compassion and humanity are very important here and should be paramount when providing care. It would be worthy debate on Moral Maze.<br /><br />Julie ~ Of course it is possible that patients can be oversedated (and not only by antipsychotics)and you describe the sad situation of your neighbour - it is worth asking where was the follow-up from whichever physician prescribed this medication.<br /><br />Any relative who is concerned that their loved one is oversedated should seek an audience with the prescribing GP or psychiatrist. (I saw my mothers GP although not for this reason).<br /><br />It is the case that dementia is a progressive disease and the mind breaking down is part of this - although I am not saying this was so in your neighbours case.<br /><br />We have a few residents who sleep the clock round (woken for meals) who only receive meds for physical conditions.<br /><br />(I feel I am making excuses for your neighbours plight here - please may I assure you this is not the case).<br /><br />Israr ~ Thank you (My hero!).<br /><br />Cockroach Catcher ~ Understood! (I have left a comment on your post).<br /><br />Anna o]hyperCRYPTICalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11967085628384237933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-656731800600567952011-11-17T15:26:32.772+00:002011-11-17T15:26:32.772+00:00Just posted "Avandia".Just posted "Avandia".Cockroach Catcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14440000294855006966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-73842680401415023832011-11-17T13:48:51.771+00:002011-11-17T13:48:51.771+00:00That is why DOCTORs should be allowed to be doctor...That is why DOCTORs should be allowed to be doctors without directives from CEOs as to how best to treat without influence by fashion or worst, money. Guidelines often get it wrong, like Avandia for diabetes.Cockroach Catcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14440000294855006966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-32818820382853518692011-11-15T06:45:27.398+00:002011-11-15T06:45:27.398+00:00very thought provoking and sad post this is... pat...very thought provoking and sad post this is... patients need to be helped by the healthy ...Misterio Vidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04396947981573285341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-55067070829149585552011-11-15T01:31:30.656+00:002011-11-15T01:31:30.656+00:00I have mixed feelings about this, Anna, because I&...I have mixed feelings about this, Anna, because I've seen proper use and also abuse of these drugs. My decision to look after my mum at home when she got Alzheimers was due to seeing a neighbour of mine having her mind broken down by overuse of these drugs in a nursing home. I do understand that not all dementia sufferers are the same; I was fortunate in that my mum did not exhibit aggression as part of her condition and I think part of that was down to prescription of Aricept. I also know other people whose relatives suffer from dementia and the only relief they can get is by prescription of these drugs. But they are sometimes abused and chemical cosh does happen. It doesn't mean that we stop prescribing, but things do have to be kept an eye on.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556587747031166439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-62438023515596171152011-11-14T12:12:42.735+00:002011-11-14T12:12:42.735+00:00A very good and thought provoking post. It seems d...A very good and thought provoking post. It seems downright cruel and not in the patient's best interests to keep them from help because of a statistical likelihood that helping them might shorten their lives. It's wrong to extrapolate from statistics to decide what is right in an individual case. There are issues of humanity and compassion here. I'd liek to see this debated on the Moral Maze on Radio 4.Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-90318832130183008062011-11-14T04:28:09.106+00:002011-11-14T04:28:09.106+00:00You paint the picture of a person with dementia ve...You paint the picture of a person with dementia very vividly here. It's a scary thing, to lose your mind, and not know where you are and where you've come from. I hope there was something I could do to help...<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Arnab Majumdar<br /><a href="http://scribblefest.com/" rel="nofollow">ScribbleFest.com</a>Arnab Majumdarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15746493850475907233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-60114983570792408062011-11-13T19:18:00.064+00:002011-11-13T19:18:00.064+00:00Anyone who has experienced severe mental illness t...Anyone who has experienced severe mental illness themselves or in a loved one knows the torment well. Your description of how it must be experienced is very evocative.<br /><br />I share your view about psychotropic medication in this and other circumstances. It is not a chemical cosh, often the only relief. Like all powerful medication it needs to.be used sparingly and with the patients interest at heart. I may need it one day, and hope that wisdom and caring prevail over protocols.Dr philhttp://www.drphilyerboots.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-89221436015491717202011-11-13T18:20:48.749+00:002011-11-13T18:20:48.749+00:00It must be very frightening for the dementia-suffe...It must be very frightening for the dementia-sufferer, as well as difficult for the carers. Daughter is working on an elderly ward at the moment. Am going to email her your post.ADDYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018958238940897902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-65244854845346035712011-11-13T14:36:04.188+00:002011-11-13T14:36:04.188+00:00Anna, my uncle is currently in a state similar to ...Anna, my uncle is currently in a state similar to "Jim's", and all I can imagine is that he drifts form one dream/nightmare to another. Sometimes he seems content; at others, frightened, angry, violent or whatever. The most heartbreaking thing is that we will never know what goes on in his head; merely try to keep up with it. A very good post.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139696084392272622.post-38886774083165652092011-11-13T07:31:00.876+00:002011-11-13T07:31:00.876+00:00Hello Anna
I've just read your blog (stating ...Hello Anna<br /><br />I've just read your blog (stating the obvious here) and the links. Interesting that Burstow also follows up with "...and punish doctors if a target of reducing the number of elderly care home residents and dementia patients prescribed antipsychotics from 180,000 to 60,000 is not met". The verb 'to meet' and the noun 'the target' are significant here. The 'dying prematurely' and 'deprivation of liberty' in Burstow's argument are non-starters. <br /><br />I truly hope that if I ever need such care myself that my care home will be like yours.<br /><br />Rant on, please!NorthernTeachernoreply@blogger.com