Here are quotes from two excellent essays about being an empowered caregiver.
First, from Muriel Gillick, MD:
In those care planning meetings in the nursing home, if they ask nothing else, family members should ask “what drugs is mom on?” And that should be followed by “why is she on them?” and “are they helping?” And if there is no good reason for giving the medication, ask that it be stopped, especially neuroleptics. It will save mom a lot of misery—and save money for all of us.
Read the full post: Getting Off Drugs.
Second, from Anna Quindlen, who recently spoke about caring for her father at the end of his life:
When I raised ethical questions about changing the scope of my father’s treatment because of the low likelihood of recovery, they acted as though those questions were appropriate and sensible. They made me feel like a good daughter, not the opposite, for asking them.
Read her full speech at HumanizingMedicine.org (click fast — her essay will disappear on Dec. 3, 2013, at her request):
As soon as I posted this I wanted to append new resources, so here goes:
Yesterday I tweeted:
In the spirit of “just in case my tweet can reach someone who needs this today…” what would you share?
One of the replies was from Elin Silveous and it pertains:
Considering a diagnostic test?: Ask how results will determine next steps. If they won’t, reconsider having the test.
Same advice goes for when you are in the caregiver role, of course.
Second, Hilda Bastian pens “Statistically funny,” a cartoon about “the science of unbiased health research.” Today’s is apt since it speaks to the same spirit of asking questions about drugs and other treatments:
Does it work? Beware of the too-simple answer