Something that was surprising to me was that a good percentage of people are prescribed certain medications especially for older adults. This is easy to assume since many older adults take multiple daily medications for illnesses but yet It’s still surprising to read about. Another thing that was surprising was that it’s a very normalized thing to prescribe older adults a load of medications such as for heart, liver, depression, anxiety, diabetes, etc. Although understand some are mandated and essential for people to function i wouldn’t resort to taking multiple pills a day. I would become more active, better eating habits, organic/ herbal products to help out. It’s normal for our bodies to change internally and its easy for medications to react differently depending on the person/ body changes that have occurred. I completely agree that we should make healthier life choices and become more active that way in the long run we won’t be so dependent on certain medications. The conversation she had with Irina was prevalent since it’s a subject many of us avoid. It’s always been a touchy subject but It’s something many of us should talk about and express our thoughts, feelings, and even if we have questions. Many of the things discussed in the text and the tapes were very interesting and insightful since they talked more in depth about dementia. They also spoke more about what It’s like living with dementia and what the medications did. I think her approach is excellent. I think its something that can deeply help improve any ones life and aging doesn’t mean one has to get on medications for every single possible thing.
I totally get what you’re saying, it’s kind of crazy how common it is for older adults to be on so many medications. Even though we know people take pills for things like heart problems, diabetes, or anxiety, seeing how normal it’s become is kind of shocking. I like what you said about focusing on healthier habits like being active, eating better, or trying herbal stuff. It makes sense that taking care of our bodies naturally could help us avoid relying on so many meds, especially since our bodies change as we get older.
I think your point about the conversation with Irina is really important. A lot of people avoid talking about dementia or care plans, but being open about it can make a huge difference for families. Being able to ask questions, share feelings, and understand what someone is going through helps everyone. I agree that Aronson’s approach shows aging doesn’t have to mean taking a ton of meds and that there are better ways to keep quality of life high.
Lisbeth,
If you read these chapters, I cannot tell from your answers. Most of your answers were broad enough to be substantially correct about the general topic, but have nothing much to do with the details in the readings.
Dr P