Posted on August 18th, 2012 by Catherine Obuch
Up to 6,000 elderly people could be dying prematurely each year because of widespread over-prescription of powerful drugs to dementia patients in nursing homes.
Experts say anti-psychotic drugs can leave patients immobilised and unable to speak and are often used unnecessarily to keep dementia sufferers quiet for overworked staff.
But the drugs can increase the risk of death by 50 per cent, and family members are often left in the dark about their use.
John Burns? family thought they were doing the best thing for their father when they booked him in to a nearby nursing home in Adelaide offering specialist dementia care.
Just 63 years old, he had severe symptoms such as disinhibited sexual behaviour. He never hurt anyone but his lewd remarks and wandering put him at risk of harm.
What then happened to Mr Burns, while extreme, is not uncommon, according to experts.
He walked into the nursing home able to feed and clean himself and able to converse with his family.
Within 24 hours he was so doped up they could barely wake him, within a week he was unable to sit upright or converse at all, and within 12 days, he was dead.
To read more CLICK HERE
Filed under: Health
Source: http://www.himaabranches.com/wp/?p=11505
bruce irvin charlie st cloud celtics josh hamilton nba playoffs rosario dawson young jeezy
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.