Question
what are the pros and cons of the elderly in nursing homes having the right to autonomy?
Answers
Ms. Sue
How much autonomy? What is the mental condition of each elderly? Doesn't the mental state make a difference as to how much autonomy it's safe to allow each patient?
For instance, when my mother was in a nursing home, she broke her hip. However, she had Alzeimers and forgot she broke her hip, so several times she got up out of her wheel chair and fell. I insisted that the staff tie her into her chair so that she couldn't hurt herself.
On the other hand, I have a friend in a nursing home who has all of his faculties. He comes and goes as he pleases; in fact he drives himself all over town.
You'll need to define your terms and set conditions for weighing pros and cons.
For instance, when my mother was in a nursing home, she broke her hip. However, she had Alzeimers and forgot she broke her hip, so several times she got up out of her wheel chair and fell. I insisted that the staff tie her into her chair so that she couldn't hurt herself.
On the other hand, I have a friend in a nursing home who has all of his faculties. He comes and goes as he pleases; in fact he drives himself all over town.
You'll need to define your terms and set conditions for weighing pros and cons.
Anonymous
I need some pros and cons for the elderly being able to make decisions. Like so far I have:
There are many pros and cons to letting the elderly have the right to autonomy. Some pros include that it makes them feel better about themselves. It makes them want to live and it makes them feel like they have control. Another pro is it makes less work for the nurses and there aides. Although the health care providers have to pay a little more attention they don’t physically have to do the work.
There are many pros and cons to letting the elderly have the right to autonomy. Some pros include that it makes them feel better about themselves. It makes them want to live and it makes them feel like they have control. Another pro is it makes less work for the nurses and there aides. Although the health care providers have to pay a little more attention they don’t physically have to do the work.
Ms. Sue
That's very true.
But what about those patients who have dementia and can't handle autonomy?
What about those who would walk out the door and get lost or walk in front of a car? My mother lost the ability to find her clothes much less dress herself. She couldn't find her way from her room to the dining room. We took her cigarettes away for fear she'd burn the building down. Some dementia patients would forget to eat.
I'm in the "elderly" age group and have friends who are mentally competent into their 90s. The majority of the patients in nursing homes, though, are not mentally competent.
But what about those patients who have dementia and can't handle autonomy?
What about those who would walk out the door and get lost or walk in front of a car? My mother lost the ability to find her clothes much less dress herself. She couldn't find her way from her room to the dining room. We took her cigarettes away for fear she'd burn the building down. Some dementia patients would forget to eat.
I'm in the "elderly" age group and have friends who are mentally competent into their 90s. The majority of the patients in nursing homes, though, are not mentally competent.