CA Elder Affairs Committee Holds Hearing Regarding Anti-Psychotic Drugs In Nursing Homes

Editor's note: While this Shark visited Alice R. Gore at her nursing home, he noticed an interesting phenomena.  Alice and the rest of the residents appeared to be in a lethargic almost dreamlike trance. This zombie like state of mind disappeared and the residents "quick stepped" on days when the State of Illinois inspectors arrived.  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

 

CA Elder Affairs Committee Holds Hearing Regarding Anti-Psychotic Drugs In Nursing Homes

July 16, 2013 by FiduciaryWatch

The state Legislature’s Elder Affair’s Committee holds a hearing Tuesday to discuss the use of anti-psychotic drugs in nursing homes. It is at 10:30 a.m. in Room B-2 at the State House.
“An Act Relative to Psychotropic Medications,” (S. 303) would require long term care facilities in Massachusetts to obtain written consent before administering a psychotropic medication to a resident. Caregivers with the health workers union, 1199SEIU, will testify.
Caregivers will share their experiences with residents with dementia and advocate for alternative treatments to anti-psychotic drugs. The alternatives include person-centered care, consistent assignments and adequate staffing levels. The health care union leadership will explain how it believes the legislation would reduce the rates of anti-psychotic drug administration in elder care facilities.
Amanda Torres-Price, spokesperson for the union, said the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that anti-psychotic drugs are associated with an increased risk of death when used in elderly patients with dementia.
She cited a report by California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) which stated that “In many cases, nursing homes use [these drugs] to sedate and control residents and as a substitute for needed care.”
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), during the time period of April 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012, 25 percent of long-stay residents in Massachusetts nursing homes received an anti-psychotic medication, which is above the national average.
During that same time period, more than 75 percent of long-stay residents at HealthBridge’s Holyoke Rehabilitation Center in Holyoke received an anti-psychotic, over triple the national average, the union said.
Also during this time period, more than 61 percent of long-stay residents at HealthBridge’s Lowell Health Care Center received these drugs, over double the national average, according to the union.
“We need to advocate for our vulnerable, elderly citizens by reducing the use of anti-psychotic drugs at nursing homes,” Torres-Price said.
“This is particularly important as the number of seniors increases, causing more people to be faced with difficult decisions about elder care.”
Read a recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Source:  Hearing On Antipsychotic Drugs And The Elderly