Dementia coverage appreciated; hormone therapy options

Good to know options for dementia patients

Thank you so much for printing Dr. Stanley A. Termans essay Helping dementia patients avoid premature death (March 6). After seeing Still Alice and witnessing my mother die of pneumonia brought on by dementia, it is very helpful to understand that dementia patients have options.

If I had known about these options 15 years ago, I might have been able to discuss this issue with my mother when she began to show signs of dementia. As it was, she had no DNR (do not resuscitate).

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I plan on amending my living will to include my wishes, should I have advanced dementia. I do not want to suffer needlessly or place the burden on my family.

Joan Buchman San Diego

Thanks to Joan McColly for her accurate and informative letter (Hormone therapy education called for, March 5) concerning the use of pregnant mares (and the killing of their foals) for obtaining one type of estrogen for a popular medication.

Fortunately, there is no reason anyone has to use this type of cruelty-based product. There are other plant-based hormone replacement therapies available, prescription and nonprescription.

Most physicians are knowledgeable about these effective alternatives.

Mary Lee Moser Del Mar

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Dementia coverage appreciated; hormone therapy options