It has been all over the news for the past few years: the opioid epidemic in the United States is extremely problematic. Some studies go as far to say that opioids often cause more problems than they help solve. This needs to be addressed on a case by case basis by doctors and others that oversee in-home care and other types of senior care, but the argument that opioids are dangerous is a strong one. New research backs this up yet again.
For those that are new to this debate, opioids are a type of painkiller that are often prescribed to help individuals control chronic pain. The issue is that they are highly addictive, and many studies indicate that when opioids are used, the chances of misuse, either intentional or otherwise, go way up. And when this occurs, the result can be fatal. Opioids are addictive and they are deadly when doses are too high. In many instances, this combination is far more problematic than alleviating the chronic pain in the first place.
This is why so many doctors are now advocating for a far more limited usage of opioids. To do this, those that are currently using opioids but don’t need to be need to be weaned off of the addictive medication. Recent research shows that those who have tapered their usage of opioids have seen gains when it comes to quality of life. Tapering may even help reduce pain and improve functioning. This research is still emerging, but it is consistent with what other comprehensive studies have discovered. The bottom line is that opioids, although helpful in some cases, can often be reduced or even eliminated with similar or better results when it comes to pain management and quality of life.
If your older mom or dad is being prescribed opioids as part of their senior care strategy by their doctor, it might be worth asking if there are alternative methods of pain management. It’s also worth noting that several studies have indicated that there are more effective methods of controlling chronic pain in seniors over the long term than what opioids are capable of. Exercise, physical therapy, and even counseling or therapy have shown that they might be able to help to control pain more effectively than opioids can. This is certainly worth looking into as it may help your parent to live a better, healthier, and happier life. After all, aren’t these things all goals that you have for your mom or dad when helping to plan their care?
Giving your parent the very best is important when you are looking into senior care. There are a lot of different types of care out there, and what’s best for some is not best for everyone. Similar to this, effective medical treatment for one person might not be effective for another. Use care and compassion when helping your mom or dad find the best care for their specific needs. This will help them get one step closer to having the retirement that they’ve dreamed of.
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