Gentic testing is used to determine if an individual has HD. However, these tests are only 95% accurate. Leaving a 5% margine for error. There are several steps one must undergo before being tested.
The first step is an Neurological Examination. This is done to determine whether or not an individual is showing any clincial signs of HD. Rarely done, an individual may be diagnosed with HD during the Neurological Examination, if they show even the slightest symtoms and there is a family history of HD.
The next step is Pre-test Counseling. During this an indiviual will learn about HD, their individual level of risk, the test's accuracy and limitations, the testing procedure and the possible outcomes. After recieving all of this information the individual will weight the risk and benefits of tesing and pursue on with the procedures if they wish.
If one decides to go ahead with testing, a team of professionals carefully prepare the individual for a negative, positive or inconclusive test result. This team of professionals include: Neurologists, Gentetic Counselors, Social Workers, Psychiatrists and Psychologists.
All of these counseling sessions must be accompanid by a spouse, a friend or a relative who is not at risk.
When it comes to the actual testing, only a blood sample is taken. this is used to analyze DNA for HD by counting the number of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene. Individuals without HD usually have 28 or fewer repeats of CAG. Indivduals with HD usually have 40 or more. Inconclusive tests results may require a blood sample for an affected parent to get an true false or negative result.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Controversy Surrounding Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are facilites that are there to provide 24/7 care for an individual who can no longer perform vital life functions for themselves or need a little assistance in doing so.
Looking around at the world today, we realize how hectic everything really is. We stress over every little thing. With this being said, can we slow ourselves down enough to care for a loved one who has fallen ill or that can no longer care for themselves? The overwhelming answer to this question is NO. It's easy to see this by stopping to take a look at the nursing facilites around us. With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, the nursing homes have or are beginning to reach maximum capactity. The economy has left the children of the baby boomers with no other choice. Pulling 60 hour work weeks to make ends meet has left them with no one to care for the elderly, thus have to place them into a nursing facility.
With them reaching the capactity, is it really safe to place another person, perhaps a loved one to you, in a nursing facility? Ths is one of many questions that ran through my mind when having to make the decision of placing my mother in a nursing faciltiy. Overcrowding is just one of the many controversies surrounding these types of facilties.
There are some clear advantages to a Nursing Home. An individual many require trained medical care that an untrained family member cannot provide. This care may also be required 24/7. An individuals family may not be able to provide around the clock care, thus making the nursing home seem like an more appealing choice. One, they are getting the trained medical care they are so desperatly needing and two, they always have someone there in case of ememergencies.
However, there are several disadvantages to a Nursing Home. The highest quality of staff may not be avaliable. Most nursing homes do not follow the same standard of care, therefore leading to countless lawsuits due to abuse and neglect.
There are many more pro's and con's to Nursing Homes that I could list for you, but you get the main picture. Like I had mentioned above, the hecticness of everyday life is what led me to placing my mother in one of these facilties. Yes, I have heard the horror stories, but I have heard amazing stories as well. Playing an active roll in my mother's care helps me ease the worries on my mind. By visiting her on a very frequent bases and checking in with someone else when I can not helps me keep an eye on what is going on with all of this. Because of the horror stories, I will continually keep a close eye, so to speak, on her.
Placing my mother in a Nursing Home was the one of the hardest decision of my life. I did not and still do not like the ideal of her being there. Until I finish school and get my life in order, this is where she is going to have to stay. Yes, I do plan on getting her out of there!!!
Looking around at the world today, we realize how hectic everything really is. We stress over every little thing. With this being said, can we slow ourselves down enough to care for a loved one who has fallen ill or that can no longer care for themselves? The overwhelming answer to this question is NO. It's easy to see this by stopping to take a look at the nursing facilites around us. With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, the nursing homes have or are beginning to reach maximum capactity. The economy has left the children of the baby boomers with no other choice. Pulling 60 hour work weeks to make ends meet has left them with no one to care for the elderly, thus have to place them into a nursing facility.
With them reaching the capactity, is it really safe to place another person, perhaps a loved one to you, in a nursing facility? Ths is one of many questions that ran through my mind when having to make the decision of placing my mother in a nursing faciltiy. Overcrowding is just one of the many controversies surrounding these types of facilties.
There are some clear advantages to a Nursing Home. An individual many require trained medical care that an untrained family member cannot provide. This care may also be required 24/7. An individuals family may not be able to provide around the clock care, thus making the nursing home seem like an more appealing choice. One, they are getting the trained medical care they are so desperatly needing and two, they always have someone there in case of ememergencies.
However, there are several disadvantages to a Nursing Home. The highest quality of staff may not be avaliable. Most nursing homes do not follow the same standard of care, therefore leading to countless lawsuits due to abuse and neglect.
There are many more pro's and con's to Nursing Homes that I could list for you, but you get the main picture. Like I had mentioned above, the hecticness of everyday life is what led me to placing my mother in one of these facilties. Yes, I have heard the horror stories, but I have heard amazing stories as well. Playing an active roll in my mother's care helps me ease the worries on my mind. By visiting her on a very frequent bases and checking in with someone else when I can not helps me keep an eye on what is going on with all of this. Because of the horror stories, I will continually keep a close eye, so to speak, on her.
Placing my mother in a Nursing Home was the one of the hardest decision of my life. I did not and still do not like the ideal of her being there. Until I finish school and get my life in order, this is where she is going to have to stay. Yes, I do plan on getting her out of there!!!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Writing about all of this brings up memories I have of my mother being "normal". I can remember her being a very spiritual woman. She would always take me and my younger brother to church. I specifically remember a Christmas play that she put us in. I was the angel that floated above baby Jesus.
It is hard to sit and have all of the memories come flooding back without tearing up. I know that my mother didnt make the decision to have this horrible disease, but I sit and wonder why I was the one choosen to be put in this situation. My family has left all of the responsiblity of caring for her to me. I have both a younger and older brother who refuses to help, let alone see her. Thus, I am the only one left, and if I didnt do anything for her she would be all alone.
On my 18th birthday, I had to make the horrible decision to put her in a nursing home. I had moved away to attend college. At the time she was living on her own, but in the short 2 months that I was gone her ability to perform personal heygeine had gone down hill. My mom could no longer take care of her person and we were all afraid she would have an accident cooking or while in the shower. Since I was gone to school and neither one of my brothers could help, there was no choice but to move her to a nursing facility. This was the hardest decision of my life. I wonder everyday if I did make the right decision, or should I drop out of college and move back to care for her?? This is the question that constantly sits on my mind.
It is hard to sit and have all of the memories come flooding back without tearing up. I know that my mother didnt make the decision to have this horrible disease, but I sit and wonder why I was the one choosen to be put in this situation. My family has left all of the responsiblity of caring for her to me. I have both a younger and older brother who refuses to help, let alone see her. Thus, I am the only one left, and if I didnt do anything for her she would be all alone.
On my 18th birthday, I had to make the horrible decision to put her in a nursing home. I had moved away to attend college. At the time she was living on her own, but in the short 2 months that I was gone her ability to perform personal heygeine had gone down hill. My mom could no longer take care of her person and we were all afraid she would have an accident cooking or while in the shower. Since I was gone to school and neither one of my brothers could help, there was no choice but to move her to a nursing facility. This was the hardest decision of my life. I wonder everyday if I did make the right decision, or should I drop out of college and move back to care for her?? This is the question that constantly sits on my mind.
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