Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Compassion not Control Serving At-Risk Older Adults
26TH ANNUAL MAINE GERIATRICS CONFERENCEJUNE 2-3, 2016
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
PRESENTED BYSUSAN WEHRY, M.D.,
CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRYUNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Objectives
â—Ź Define autonomy, independence, self-
efficacy
â—Ź Discuss diminished capacity
â—Ź Describe supported decision-making
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Why I Care (so much)
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First, Do No Harm
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Do GoodNOT SAME AS PATERNALISM
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Respect AutonomyEVEN IN FACE OF DIMINISHED CAPACITY
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Advocate FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
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Why it Matters (Now)
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Cultural traps, stereotypes
& family folklore
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1 in 10
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⇧ Guardianship requests
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Eleanor 12
“I don’t want to lose my independence”
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
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Freedom
Self-sufficiencySelf-reliance
Independence
I can do it myself
I can do it my way
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
AutonomyCRITICAL CONCEPTS
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Not Independence
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Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
It’s My Right!
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Autonomy
â—Ź To choose
â—Ź To self-determination
â—Ź To be responsible
â—Ź Dignity of risk
â—Ź To fail
â—Ź To privacy
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The right to be left aloneLEGAL DOCTRINE
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“…foolish, unreasonable and even absurd ideas which do not conform…”JUSTICE BURGER
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Conflict → Abandonment
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Threats to autonomy
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Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Normative Aging Issues
â—Ź Biological
â—Ź Sensory changes
â—Ź Loss of reserve
â—Ź Slower recovery
â—Ź Increased medication sensitivity
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Normative Aging Issues
â—Ź Cognitive
â—Ź Sensory impairment
â—Ź Attention
â—Ź Registration
● ↓ Memory
â—Ź More trials
â—Ź Less efficient recall
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Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Normative Aging Issues
â—Ź Psychological
â—Ź Positive
â—Ź Resilient
â—Ź Loss
â—Ź Developmental tasks
â—Ź Goals and values may change
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â—Ź Social
â—Ź Change in role
â—Ź Change in connection
â—Ź Less visible
â—Ź Risk of abuse, exploitation
26Normative Aging Issues
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Non-Normative
â—Ź Dementia, due to any cause
â—Ź Depression
â—Ź Substance Use Disorders
â—Ź Abuse, neglect, exploitation
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Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Net result
â—Ź Live in fear
â—Ź of losing autonomy
â—Ź of reprisal
â—Ź of losing options
â—Ź Anxious when decisions challenged
â—Ź May minimize deficits
â—Ź Defend independence
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NecessaryBUT NOT SUFFICIENT
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Motivators and TriggersTO TAKE CONTROL
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Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Fear, Frustration, Filial love
â—Ź Safety
â—Ź Falls
â—Ź Protection from exploitation
â—Ź Fear of Decline
â—Ź Access to medical care
â—Ź Access to services
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Common Triggers
â—Ź Treatment refusal
â—Ź Non-adherence
â—Ź Abuse, neglect, exploitation
â—Ź Lifestyle intolerance
â—Ź Hospitalization
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Enter: CompassionEMPATHY PLUS RIGHT ACTION
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Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Empathize, don’t sympathize
â—Ź Fear
â—Ź Sense of loss
â—Ź Sense of risk
â—Ź Love
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Support for at risk adultsFINDING BALANCE
ENHANCING SELF EFFICACY
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Enhancing Self-Efficacy
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Self-efficacy
• “What I do makes a difference”
• “I’m in charge”
â—Ź of my destiny
• “I am responsible”
â—Ź for my actions
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Engage Circles of Support
Family Friends
ProfessionalsPeers
Co-workers
Others
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Identify Health Goals
● “get out of the apartment and back to doing things for myself”
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Create control points
â—Ź Time you come
â—Ź How you spend time
â—Ź Present options
â—Ź clearly
â—Ź realistically
â—Ź without personal bias
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Start the conversation
â—Ź Advance planning
â—Ź Palliation
â—Ź End of life care
â—Ź The Five Questions
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Everything you do…
Care transitions
Self-management
Action plans
Care coordination
Riding the busScreenings
…Is an opportunity to enhance or diminish self-efficacy
Partnerships
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WHEN DO WE? WHEN DON’T WE?
“Leave me alone!”
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Competency v. Capacity
â—Ź Competency
â—Ź a legal concept
â—Ź Capacity
â—Ź a clinical concept
● the ability to “do” something
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Capacity assessments
â—Ź Assist best performance
â—Ź More than one examination
● Decision-making “good enough”
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
Supported Decision-Making
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
In conclusion
â—Ź Lead with compassion not control
â—Ź Find the balance
â—Ź Unite against abuse
Compassion not Control © Susan Wehry MD 2016
June 15: Take Action
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Thank YouFOR BEING HEREFOR PARTICIPATINGFOR ALL YOU DO
More Questions? Comments?
Please contact me [email protected] my websitewww.susanwehrymd.com
Or join me on Twitter: @CommishVT12 @beingwithaging#changingaging #Oasis2