tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1489173439865061632.post6072746589327912775..comments2024-03-21T07:04:24.033-04:00Comments on THE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: When Patient Choices Are HarmfulAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368028391616959419noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1489173439865061632.post-73279203535664326732013-06-28T00:33:37.549-04:002013-06-28T00:33:37.549-04:00This is such a huge issue for us. We are conservat...This is such a huge issue for us. We are conservators for my husband's brother. He would love to have a girlfriend. Unfortunately, his cognitive disability is severe enough that no amount of behavioral therapy keeps him from kicking people she talks to; grabbing and being possessive of her; and generally making her life miserable until the woman (and her family) are afraid and angry. We've been through this six times and with each episode, we struggle with professionals in the field who insist on consumer choice. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03170038565915799396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1489173439865061632.post-17533580832099380102013-05-18T08:23:03.983-04:002013-05-18T08:23:03.983-04:00Brenda, I am so glad that you wrote about this. I...Brenda, I am so glad that you wrote about this. I believe it is a trend (although it is far worse in the UK where the pendulum has swung even further - patient choice trumps all and hang the consequences). For our children and elderly parents who refuse medications, a bath, proper clothing... we need to protect and support. I believe that our personal and collective care for our vulnerable loved ones needs to be carried out and planned for on the basis of 'least restrictive/most supportive'. We don't want the pendulum to swing the other way and have no respect for the person! Let me know what you think of this ethic for care. Thanks, Brenda!The Caregivers' Living Roomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10920119448415733545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1489173439865061632.post-31669983058194892792013-05-17T23:55:38.754-04:002013-05-17T23:55:38.754-04:00Your blog hits the nail on the head! I have had ma...Your blog hits the nail on the head! I have had many occasions when my son was 'empowered' by well-meaning yet thoughtless staff that didn't think about the consequences and effects of his poor decisions. This is a major problem now that agencies operate under their ideology of client choice and empowerment. Rights without responsibilities are never considered and is certainly never taught in the schools of our kids. We have gone all 'lawyered up' on everything, the pendulum now swings to the other extreme and this is having grave implications for vulnerable people. My son was recently in the hospital and he was not fed, washed or properly taken care of by the medical staff due to this misplaced ideology of 'client directed ' care. It was very scary to think that my son, with his autism and developmental delays , will not get proper medical care unless I am there or hire someone to be with him . This is the extra cost of disability that is hidden from view as it requires families to be extra vigilant and use their time and money to provide care that is not available to them in a normal matter of course.<br />Brenda Parris, Toronto<br />PS- Love your work, keep it up!Brenda Parrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1489173439865061632.post-53395471764203423542013-05-14T09:30:13.472-04:002013-05-14T09:30:13.472-04:00Shocking story about your friend's daughter.
...Shocking story about your friend's daughter.<br /><br />I don't think we've had this experience -- will think more on it.BLOOM - Parenting Kids With Disabilitieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06901482901008135659noreply@blogger.com