Comments on: Feminine products denied to disabled women in nursing homes and other institutions; Forced medication to minimize menstruation

By: Pony

Pony — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 03:50:19 +0000

With the pharma push now for Seasonale and other such BC drugs, I wonder if nursing home management is receiving funds from pharmaceutical companies to enrol women to these newer bc drugs.

I don’t think bandaid action achieves much. Rather it is better to take it higher, lobby and petition elected representatives (particularly in light of an upcoming election) for change overall, using this as an example of an accepted substand of care and loss of civil rights that is delivered to all nursing home residents.

By: Blue

Blue — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 03:23:00 +0000

I’ve heard all that too, Pony. I believe many nursing homes are very dangerous places, and much like prisons, to the people living in them.

By: Pony

Pony — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 02:22:27 +0000

Forced medicating in nursing homes isn’t new. I haven’t the cite here, but I have read that women in nursing homes who complained about shoddy care, advocated for better care and services, were given anti-psychotics to make them compliant. I have also read that nursing home residents have been used to test drugs, and this was known and allowed by the nursing home management who were paid by pharmaceutical companies to do this, but it was not done with the awareness or permission of nursing home residents or their families.

By: belledame222

belledame222 — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:01:41 +0000

jesus fucking christ.

By: Blue

Blue — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 22:05:49 +0000

Very true, Pony. All of it needs to be changed.

By: Pony

Pony — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:19:56 +0000

I imagine staff are refusing to deal with the menstrual supplies issue because they are now applying the standard of care to disabled women of reproductive age which they have always applied to elderly women. Two diapers a day maximum, left for hours and hours in their own feces, urine running down their legs, diapers and peri pads, shampoo, hand lotion and toothpast etc bought out of old age pension, fed primarily Enfalac and given enemas to cut down on having to change diapers. This has been going on for some time, with no one really caring when it comes to old women. Oh everyone gives it lip service.

By: Blue

Blue — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:48:35 +0000

I would guess luna pads would be a problem, though they’d be the coolest solution. I think in an institutional setting where there are so many regulations about sanitary and sometimes even sterile conditions, the disposable pads are the ones that would get used. I think it’s likely these women need help with most toileting.

These are good questions I don’t have an answer for. I’d like to think the practicality of some employees would lead to less or no new women forcibly administered BC. Or the ones for whom it presents a medical risk would have a ready option with a supply of pads available. Hopefully, there’ll be more information forthcoming from FRIDA.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:57:36 +0000

1. How disabled are we talking? Would something like LunaPads (www.lunapads.com, washable & reuseable pads) be helpful, or are the majority of the women unable to change pads themselves and wash them in the sink? Who’s distributing the goods? If we send some reusable pads, would they get to women able to use them?

2. So is staff refusing to deal with menstruation because they don’t want to, and are denying access to pads because of that? Or is it the othe way ’round, where there’s no access and so they are working around it with menstrual suppression? If the former, I’m worried that having a glut of products will still not make a difference at those sites where BC is being forcibly administered.

By: The Dees Diversion

The Dees Diversion — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

attacks, depresion, muscle pain, insomnia, cramping, and on and on. Depo Provera–used over a long period of time– carries its own particularly nasty side effect: bone loss, which does not necessarily reverse when the drug is no longer injected. Alas, a Blog reports, however, that Depo Provera is being injected into disabled women in some nursing homes so that the staff does not have to deal with the patients’ menstrual cycles. It is against the law to do this: Sanitary napkins are among the supplies that

By: feminist blogs

feminist blogs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

s really going on with women’s rights in nursing homes and institutions, get in touch…. More contact information available at the FRIDA site. Crossposted at The Gimp Parade Check there for more comments posted 2:05 am at Alas, a blog

By: Pacific Views

Pacific Views — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

you can’t trust the Republicans on national security. Ultrageek explains why Howard Dean is dangerous. MyDD showcases WA-08 congressional candidate Darcy Burner and reviews her latest ad. Alas, A Blog notes that women in nursing homes are being denied feminine hygiene products and points out the many, many ways in which Iraq is more dangerous and less free. As a summative statement that holds together well as a theme for the policy conglomeration of liberation theology/secular humanism/progressive politics, Ampersand writes

By: The Gimp Parade

The Gimp Parade — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

to speak out. If you or someone you know is willing to testify and let people know what’s really going on with women’s rights in nursing homes and institutions, get in touch…. More contact information available at the FRIDA site. Crossposted at Alas, A Blog Check there for more comments