Overuse of Antipsychotics at Nursing Home Facilities ?
June 12th, 2012 tmccoy
A bill has been proposed to the Senate that responds to reports about the overuse of antipsychotic drugs on nursing home residents. This bill would require nursing home staff to obtain informed consent from a resident or their legally designated representative acknowledging the potential risks and side effects associated with antipsychotic medications.
The nursing home staff will have greater requirements in explaining the risks and effects of the medication so that when a decision is made regarding the use of this type of medication the resident or loved ones will have the proper information to make an informed decision. Prescription medications many times are prescribed to elderly nursing home residents who show aggressive or other out of ordinary behaviors as a result of forms of dementia.
This type of bill if past should help in the fight against nursing home abuse. Many times the elderly are unnecessarily medicated, especially those with dementia. It is always a good thing to give more power to a nursing home resident or family members when it comes to the medications that are prescribed.
