Anti-psychotic drugs used to treat (so-called symptoms of Alzheimer's) is a questionable practice.
Caregivers using insight and good vibe ideas---understand that the patients rights are paramount in caregiving. Using the less restrictive means necessary is an absolute prerequisite to good caregiving.
This entails detail orientated care---in order to provide this level of care a caregiver cannot rely on drugs to control and manage a patients attitude or behavior---
The caregiver must use other means to control and manage the patients which do not violate the patients human right to life.
Insightcaregiving keeps the patient in sight of the caregivers 80% of time care is being provided---there is constant presence, eye contact, reading, casual touching, (family setting ideal).
(As an insightcargiver here is an example of day therapy I perform:
Patient (un medicated) up in room (alone) making beds, already dressed when observed, dentures located and in (alone), glasses located and on (alone), walked downstairs to kitchen (attempted to wash dishes--stopped and advised to use soap---did not agree (felt not needed "I go can home and never come here again" ramble for 5 min.)(caregiver calmed down went to turn on heat)---patient sits at kitchen table---juice, banana(2),---bp checked and is (high 186/93 pulse 70)---given bp pill and OJ---reading flower book (normal)---used rest room and is now in family room sitting directly in front of caregiver and young girl---patient reading daily news paper (quietly)---now watching dvd with daughter...
The above is a daily passage from the life of a lady who was first diagnosed with, Alzheimer's in 2004 and went through 3 years of anti-psychotic drug use, anemia, urinary tract infection, homicidal and suicidal incidents, fall incidents, extreme aggression and agitation, confused wandering, hallucinations, endless rambling and self-talk---constant ER visits and mental ward confinements.
klcouncil
Monday, April 14, 2008
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