Comments on: Are we wasting money on Alzheimer’s care? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Doc99http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90808 Doc99 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:29:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90808 Soylent Green is people. Soylent Green is people.

]]> By: ElderGuru.comhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90806 ElderGuru.com Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:49:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90806 Sure this is a subject worth bringing up, and it does get brought up - a lot. One need only work on the public policy (and the public funds associated with it) to know this. The move now is to keep people in their homes longer, which costs less and is where they want to be in the first place.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, it's an exceptionally expensive disease to deal with. Do you have thoughts on solutions? Sure this is a subject worth bringing up, and it does get brought up – a lot. One need only work on the public policy (and the public funds associated with it) to know this. The move now is to keep people in their homes longer, which costs less and is where they want to be in the first place.

Unfortunately, it’s an exceptionally expensive disease to deal with. Do you have thoughts on solutions?

]]> By: Reality Roundshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90805 Reality Rounds Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90805 Does every health care reform debate have to be about cash, or can it be about compassion? The compassion route to health care may be more cost effective. Let patients die with dignity, at home, with caregivers. Our 97 yo grandmother died at home last year, with a caregiver, in her own bed, surrounded by the people and things she loved. When we "priced" it out, having a 24 hour caregiver in her own home, was cheaper than putting her in a nursing home. Not a popular decision in the medical community. Does every health care reform debate have to be about cash, or can it be about compassion? The compassion route to health care may be more cost effective. Let patients die with dignity, at home, with caregivers. Our 97 yo grandmother died at home last year, with a caregiver, in her own bed, surrounded by the people and things she loved. When we “priced” it out, having a 24 hour caregiver in her own home, was cheaper than putting her in a nursing home. Not a popular decision in the medical community.

]]> By: Cathyhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90804 Cathy Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:04:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90804 What do you mean by medically keeping them alive? This discussion, in one form or another, has been around for awhile now. What is the drugs used to keep ALZ patients alive? If there is such a thing I never heard of it in the 12 years my mother suffered with this disease.<br/><br/>Or are you talking about with holding treatments that have nothing at all to do with their ALZ, just because they also have ALZ? Is it being suggested we not treat them for acute illnesses? Or chronic diseases unrelated to ALZ for the sole purpose of hurrying death along? <br/><br/>These people are among the most vulnerable in our society. If we are talking about killing them off, because I am not understanding what you mean by with holding treatment for ALZ, then there are words (very unkind ones) for such actions. What do you mean by medically keeping them alive? This discussion, in one form or another, has been around for awhile now. What is the drugs used to keep ALZ patients alive? If there is such a thing I never heard of it in the 12 years my mother suffered with this disease.

Or are you talking about with holding treatments that have nothing at all to do with their ALZ, just because they also have ALZ? Is it being suggested we not treat them for acute illnesses? Or chronic diseases unrelated to ALZ for the sole purpose of hurrying death along?

These people are among the most vulnerable in our society. If we are talking about killing them off, because I am not understanding what you mean by with holding treatment for ALZ, then there are words (very unkind ones) for such actions.

]]> By: Donnahttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90803 Donna Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:44:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/are-we-wasting-money-on-alzheimers-care.html#comment-90803 I'm sixty-five. I, for one, don't want my life extended unnecessarily if the time comes when I don't know anybody around me. I'm not saying kill me; just don't take unnecessary drastic measures. Please. I’m sixty-five. I, for one, don’t want my life extended unnecessarily if the time comes when I don’t know anybody around me. I’m not saying kill me; just don’t take unnecessary drastic measures. Please.

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