What surprised me the most about Cruikshank’s (2013) Chapter 4 was that older adults are more likely to develop a medical condition where blood sugar levels drop below a healthy range as a result of drug usage. This surprised me because medication is often viewed as something that helps manage or treat health conditions, but it can also create additional health concerns, especially for older adults. What stood out to me was how this connects to overmedicalization because changes in the body that may come with aging can lead to more medical treatments, which can sometimes result in other problems. It made me think about how important it is to consider whether every health change associated with aging needs to be treated medically or if some changes can be managed in other ways.
Her conversation with Svetlana was a great call because without that conversation, Aronson (2019) may have missed important findings that ultimately led to Dimitri’s drug induced late stage Parkinson’s. It showed how important it is for physicians, social workers, etc. to communicate with family members and listen to their observations, especially when a patient may not be able to fully explain what they are experiencing. It also made me think about the importance of being more open and communicative with my own family and having difficult conversations surrounding aging, health, and death.
I think Cruikshank meant that one of the most common misconceptions and fears surrounding aging in America is the belief that Alzheimer’s disease is an inevitable part of getting older. Aging in America can almost become associated with losing independence, developing dementia, and accepting that there is no full recovery. On the other hand, I would describe Aronson’s approach to dementia as more hopeful. She brings in different knowledge and skill sets through geriatric-based approaches to dementia and encourages others to fully acknowledge the importance of clinical care for effective treatment. For Aronson, dementia is not the end all be-all, but rather a condition that can be better understood and managed through proper care and a willingness to look beyond the diagnosis. I think we have started to move more toward Aronson’s approach, but there is still a strong belief that dementia is simply a part of aging, which can cause people to overlook the possibility of treatment and support.
From the article “Overmedicalization,” by Colker (2023), I learned that overmedicalization can happen when medical professionals focus too much on diagnosing and treating a condition instead of looking at the person’s individual experiences and needs. This compared with Cruikshank’s discussion because both showed how aging can become viewed mainly through a medical lens, while Aronson showed that dementia does not have to mean that a person’s life or abilities are completely defined by their diagnosis. I found it interesting to see how the way professionals approach aging and dementia can influence how others understand these conditions both negatively and positively. I do wonder how different types of healthcare professionals find balance between providing necessary medical treatment while also making sure they are not overlooking the person behind the diagnosis. I would like to know more about where the line should be drawn between recognizing genuine health concerns and viewing normal changes of aging as something that needs to be medically fixed.
References
Aronson, L. (2019). Elderhood: Redefining aging, transforming medicine, reimagining life. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Colker, R. (2023). Overmedicalization? Harvard Journal of Law & Gender, 46(2), 205–263. https://journals.law.harvard.edu/jlg/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/Overmedicalization.pdf
Cruikshank, M. (2013). Learning to be old: Gender, culture, and aging (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.
I really enjoyed reading your post, especially your point about how medications that are supposed to help older adults can sometimes cause additional health problems. I agree that this shows why we have to be careful about overmedicalizing aging. Not every change that happens as a person gets older necessarily needs another medication or medical treatment.
I also liked what you said about Aronson’s conversation with Svetlana. Family members can notice changes that healthcare professionals may not see during a short visit, so listening to them can provide important information about what is really happening. It also shows how important communication is when making decisions about someone’s care.
Your discussion about dementia also stood out to me. I agree that many people still automatically connect getting older with dementia or losing independence, even though dementia is not a normal part of aging. I think Aronson’s approach reminds us to see the person beyond the diagnosis and focus on what can still be done to support their quality of life. Your question about where we draw the line between necessary treatment and overmedicalization is important because healthcare professionals have to treat real concerns without making normal aging seem like something that always needs to be “fixed.”
Hi Ashley! I was also very struck by the shocking statistics of overmedicating. I was very sad to read about how common this experience amongst older adults is. You had a slightly difference interpretation of Cruikshank’s thoughts, but I think overall we had the same takeaways that the overall impression of Alzheimer’s is that it is way more common than it really is- I think I have fallen victim to this myself!
Hi Ashley,
I agree with your point about the importance of looking at the person instead of only focusing on their diagnosis. I also found it interesting how medication can sometimes create additional health problems, especially for older adults. Your point about family communication stood out to me because family members may notice changes that healthcare professionals do not see. I think finding a balance between treating real health concerns and recognizing normal aging is very important.
Ashley,
Your blog post was spot-on and well-written. You discussed the content of the readings, as well as your thoughts and opinions. I am thrilled the readings prompted you to reflect on your own conversations with your family. When we understand something on a personal level, we are better prepared to respond to our clients. I don’t mean we have to directly experience everything our clients experience, but personal understanding is a major part of empathy, right? And you learned from Aronson that there are ways we can have those conversations (with family and clients) that are more effective than others.
My only confusion about this post is your article. This is an abstract from the Harvard Law and Gender Journal. I am confused about why you thought this was a good selection for discussing the overmedication of older adults. But this journal edition talks about overmedication of women at various stages of life – and it doesn’t touch on older women at all – at least not that I could see from the list of articles. I’ve noticed issues with article and research selection for many of you, so I plan to add material to the modules on using AI for research.
Dr P