Are the Elderly Over Medicated?
The other day Mark Howard Beers died. He was a doctor and researcher who, with a team from Harvard, investigated the files of 850 residents in nursing homes. In doing so he found that the drugs prescribed for the elderly caused side effects that often went unnoticed - side effects such as confusion, physical tremors, lethargy and urination.
Based on that study Beers went on to establish a list of drugs known to have side effects on the elderly. This list is called the Beers Criteria. It was expanded in 2003 and is consulted by those working with the elderly. The list has made the medical establishment aware of drugs with “side effects far more destructive than any potential therapeutic benefit”
This article caught my eye as it exactly reflected the experience I had when my mother became incapable of looking after herself after several strokes and became a resident in a nursing home. For a woman who had never had any major health issues, (OK high cholesterol and blood pressure for which she was medicated - another story in itself!) she suddenly was being medicated with drugs including anti depressants which had to be discontinued each time due to the side effects. She experienced lethargy, fitting, confusion, urination and was sometimes hospitalised from these new problems. It was an extremely distressing time and I found very little support from her doctors even when they acknowledged the problem!
What to do?
Firstly stay well yourself by eating mineral dense nutrient rich food and work out a plan to avoid these experiences. If you choose homeopathy and other natural treatments they rarely have any side effects. Secondly be aware at least of the Beers Criteria so that you can ensure that the drugs on it are avoided. You may just save a life!
Ref: The Age, Mar 27th 2009, Obituaries p.14
