Drug reduction may be all the rage, but it shouldn’t be outrageous
By
Steven Levenson
Jul 10, 2023
In recent years, there has been much talk about drug reduction in nursing homes. We hear about “GDR meetings” and even a new verb, as in “We are ‘GDRing’ our residents’ medications.” ...
Practical advice on reducing antipsychotics
By
Jerome Wilborn
May 08, 2015
Two CMS tags —F-Tag 329, which addresses unnecessarily using antipsychotic drugs, and F-Tag 309, which addresses taking steps to reduce antipsychotic drug use — are used by nursing home surveyors to...
GAO has good points in how, why antipsychotics are given
By
Elizabeth Newman
Mar 04, 2015
The government recognizes the progress made in nursing homes with reduction of antipsychotics for residents with dementia, but also notes many who live in assisted living are receiving the drugs. It’s...
Creative activities for residents with dementia
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Oct 02, 2014
While conducting a training session last week in Montana, I was lucky enough to have a group of more than 100 staff members from various long-term care departments share some excellent suggestions on how...
Use caution in antipsychotics reduction
By
G. Allen Power, M.D.
Sep 22, 2014
It is true that I began speaking out about the misuse of antipsychotics drugs long before they came to national attention. But as I applaud the efforts of our providers and regulators around this important...
Looking at dementia beyond drugs and disease
By
G. Allen Power, M.D.
Aug 01, 2014
The emerging literature on “nonpharmacological interventions” has not succeeded in providing long-term solutions for many people, such that expressions of need continue to recur on a regular...