Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth started a new medication and began showing a change in her demeanour. Her daughter advocated for the medication to be stopped and when it was, Elizabeth began to return to her normal self.
Elizabeth is an older adult who spent her working years as a social worker in child protection.
She was an athlete and remained active despite a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Although she required oxygen support, she was able to manage daily tasks.
Elizabeth went on a new drug for her lung disease which led to insomnia, anxiety and unsteadiness. Her family doctor prescribed her lorazepam, but after about a month of taking it as prescribed, her family noticed changes in her demeanour and physical well-being. Elizabeth had a severe adverse reaction to the new medication, and she took herself to the emergency room where they gave her more lorazepam. Elizabeth’s daughter advocated for her mom, sharing that she saw a great decline in her since starting this medication.
Soon, Elizabeth was admitted to the hospital and her daughter’s voice went unheeded. A month later, they stopped the lorazepam as Elizabeth did not show improvement. Her daughter advocated for them to stop the medication, and they did so, four weeks later.
Almost immediately, Elizabeth began returning to her normal self. She was smiling and feeling better. The family knows that her care team truly did care but they couldn’t see the daily changes in her.
When healthcare providers and patients and caregivers work together, it benefits the patient, their caregivers as well as their health care team.
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