“Overall use of psychotropic drugs did not decrease but rather the use of psychotropic drugs shifted toward a different category.” –OIG Report. The Washington Post reported on a scary trend in nursing homes. Patients are often drugged as a matter of convenience for the nursing home staff or to reduce annoying behavior, not for safety
Maureen Meehan wrote an interesting article about a new marijuana study showing the benefits of cannabis. The University of Colorado Boulder did the study examining the effects of cannabis use in adults aged 60 to 88 with no history of alcohol or other substance use disorder. Results suggest that the use of whole-plant cannabis may
Today is world mental health day. Everyone, today either be introspective toward our own conditions or reach out to a colleague or friend who may need positive reinforcement or help.
Anti-psychotics medications are dangerous for elderly residents. The risk of harm outweighs the medical benefits. The FDA placed a black box warning on administering anti-psychotics for off-label use. The nursing home industry often used anti-psychotics as a chemical restraint to compensate for unsafe staffing. CMS warned the industry to reduce unnecessary and dangerous antipsychotic medication
CN2 reported on a tragic situation caused by the lack of supervision at Helms Gordon Residential Care. The facility allowed 79 year old Judy Pate to walk away from the facility without assistance or supervision. This is reckless. The facility is home to vulnerable adults who need assistance and supervision. The facility knew or should have
The nursing home industry needs to train caregivers on how to treat dementia patients with psychotic symptoms. Psychosis can arise from the medications nursing homes administer to residents with dementia. Antipsychotics are dangerous. Safe staffing and better training is the answer, not more medications. Psychotic symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia lead to poorer