First they came for the animal rights activists….. A recent report pointed out that laws which are used to prevent animal rights activists from exposing inhumane practices at factory farms, can also be used to prevent whistleblowers that attempt to expose corruption at other facilities, like daycare centers or nursing homes, for example. The controversial ag-gag laws do not just …
One-Third of Seniors with Dementia Are Being Given Antipsychotics
—even though such toxic drugs are not approved to treat dementia! A report [1] from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that nearly one-third of older adults with dementia who spent more than 100 days in a nursing home were given antipsychotics through Medicare’s prescription drug program in 2012. We previously reported that a similar situation exists with brain-damaged veterans [2]—and even with infants and young …
Researchers warn about overprescription of psych meds for dementia and recommend holistic approach
A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office addresses the bombastic overuse of anti-psychotic medication for suppressing behavior problems in dementia patients. The report finds that one-third of elders with dementia who stayed in a nursing home in 2012 were prescribed an anti-psychotic medication. Of elders living at home with dementia, 14 percent were prescribed the drugs as well. It’s …
Counterclockwise: When Biology Is Not Destiny
Over the years, many of us periodically bump into experiments in healthcare that cause us to think, “This changes everything!” Such studies are convincing not only because of the empirical evidence they offer, but also because they feel important to us personally. These findings strike a nerve. They often rattle our worldview, our fundamental concepts of how things work. They …
Nurse Reveals the Top Five Regrets People Make on their Deathbed
For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each …