Cognition, care homes and COVID-19: sacrificing minds to keep bodies alive
The COVID-19 restrictions are described from my standpoint with my mother living in residential care. I argue that restrictions have saved my mother’s body, through destroying her mental capacity. The unstated assumption – live bodies justify sacrificed minds – are voiced. Her quality of life remains at an all-time low, with her body preserved only through the sapping of life’s relevance through a drastic reduction in meaningful contact with her family and loved ones. I believe that my mother never would have wished to be kept alive at this cost, but, unfortunately, she no longer has capacity to discuss such issues.
-
Age UK (2020) The impact of COVID-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health, www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbeing/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-older-people_age-uk.pdf.
-
Alzheimer’s Society (2020) Worst hit: dementia during coronavirus, www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-09/Worst-hit-Dementia-during-coronavirus-report.pdf.
-
BBC News (2012) Timeline: Winterbourne View abuse scandal, 10 December, www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-20078999.
-
BBC News (2020) Woman arrested for taking mum, 97, from care home, 5 November, www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-54801702.
-
Boyle, D. (2020) Friday morning news briefing: ‘Don’t hug granny at Christmas’, The Telegraph, 27 November, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/27/friday-morning-news-briefing-dont-hug-granny-christmas/.
-
Kelly, M.E., Duff, H., Kelly, S., McHugh, J., Power, S., Brennan, B., Lawlor, D. and Loughrey, D.G. (2017) The impact of social activities, social networks, social support and social relationships on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults: a systematic review, Systematic Reviews, 6(1): 259. doi: 10.1186/s13643-017-0632-2
-
Lacey, C., Kelly, M.P. and Jutel, A. (2020) Fighting words in the Antipodes, Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 63(4): 669–82. doi: 10.1353/pbm.2020.0054
-
Mol, A. (2003) The Body Multiple: Ontology in Medical Practice, Durham: Duke University Press.
-
ONS (Office for National Statistics) (2020) Analysis of death registrations not involving coronavirus (COVID-19), England and Wales, www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/analysisofdeathregistrationsnotinvolvingcoronaviruscovid19englandandwales28december2019to1may2020/28december2019to10july2020.
-
Russell, G. (2018) Dementia diagnosis and white lies: a necessary evil for carers of dementia patients?, International Journal of Care and Caring, 2(1): 133–7. doi: 10.1332/239788217X15090949539964
| May 2022 onwards | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Full Text Views | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| PDF Downloads | 3 | 3 | 2 |
We are a leading social science publisher
committed to making a difference.
Bristol University Press and
Policy Press
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk