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News > Compliance

Partnership aims to improve dementia care in nursing homes
- Tue, Jun 12

Despite the fact that antipsychotic medications like clozapine and aripiprazole are not approved to treat dementia, these drugs are being used in nursing homes to control problems related to this condition, MedPage Today reported. This is just one reason why the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently launched the Partnership to Improve Dementia Care.

Through a collaboration with federal and state partners, as well as nursing homes and other providers, CMS will work toward achieving a 15 percent reduction in the use of antipsychotics in nursing homes by the end of 2012. According to CMS data, in 2010 alone, 17 percent of nursing home patients were given daily doses of antipsychotic drugs that were higher than they should have been.

"While many clinicians and consumers believe these medications are effective, we know from medical literature that antipsychotics have limited effectiveness and actually increase the health risks for individuals," said David Gifford, senior vice president of quality and regulatory affairs for the American Health Care Association.

To improve dementia treatment in nursing homes, CMS’ partnership will increase transparency, provide alternatives to antipsychotics and offer enhanced training to employees working in these healthcare settings.

Professionals who wish to further their knowledge of dementia and the proper ways of treating patients with this condition may also want to consider taking nursing continuing education courses.

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