- When reading about medication and older adults, I was surprised to learn about how many older adults are being prescribed medication and the dosage amount per year. Even more, older adults are being prescribed medicine simultaneously.
- Continuing, reading about natural changes in our body and how our body responds due to age was insightful. As we grow older, the organ’s function decreases. Additionally, as our body mass changes, the way we retain and eliminate drugs are different. Due to this insight, I have new insights about my fears of aging. As I age, I recognize the importance of self-advocacy, especially in the medical field. It is important to have a personalized and detailed relationship with the doctor and yourself to receive the most effective health. It was mentioned how effects related to prescription drugs are being mistaken for effects of growing older. Having an interpersonal relationship can help diagnose issues effectively.
- When discussing the power dynamic between physicians and medication, it is important to realize the type of influence that physicians have when involving medicine. In conversation, Aronson tells Irina that she believes that Dmitri’s condition has been impacted by drugs. Overall, this discussion is eye opening, because rather than understanding the diagnoses and effective treatment, Dmitri was given medicine to negatively impact his situation. However, with just a conversation with Dmitri’s daughter, Aronson was able to come to the conclusion of the issue. Doctors are focused more on diagnosing the issues, rather than getting the history of the ongoing issue to evaluate the best treatment.
- Aronson discussed issues relating to dementia that added depth to the information learned in Memory Loss Tapes. She mentions how complex and progressive that the diagnosis is. She explains how there is no “simple truth” when discussing dementia. This plays a part in how the information in memory loss tapes was shown. Each patient was at a different stage in dementia; there was no one who was the same. No dementia is the same, although we can view scans, tests, and diagnoses. Regarding Aronson’s talk at the conference about dementia with other professionals, I felt her discussion was about living with dementia, rather than “treating” this diagnosis. She emphasized how social inequality can impact health. Rather than treating and focusing on the diagnoses of dementia, healthy eating, exercising, etc. can assist with this diagnosis.
- I found the example of Gabow’s mother as meaningful. Despite medical recommendations, Gabow respected her mother’s wishes, and took an alternative approach. The biggest impact on me is how taking an alternative approach, offers lifesaving and comfortable measures versus what could have been of the effect of trying to “treat” the diagnosis.
Medical Model of Aging
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Gensis,
I would have liked you to talk more in question one about why those things surprised you and what you thought about them.
Good discussion of how the body changes as we age, and that can affect the impact of medications.
Good discussion on Dimitri and dementia.
Gabow’s approach to her mother’s treatment was much more significant than simply an alternative approach. She actually decided not to allow her mother to have surgery for a broken hip – and she is the physician who created the standards of practice for older adults in her facility. She took her mother home and allowed the hip to heal naturally. That is a big deal. Would like to have heard more about that.
Dr P