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Difference between revisions of "Overuse of Antipsychotic and Sedative Medications in Long-Term Care"
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Overuse of Antipsychotic and Sedative Medications in Long-Term Care (view source)
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Families and representatives often express concerns about medications that are prescribed to long-term care residents, particularly anti-psychotic drugs and sedatives. Their concerns are: | Families and representatives often express concerns about medications that are prescribed to long-term care residents, particularly anti-psychotic drugs and sedatives. Their concerns are: | ||
#whether the medication is being used to treat a condition or being used to subdue the resident; | |||
#whether the benefits of the drug(s) outweigh the risks for the resident; and | |||
#the lack of informed consent to the medication––usually meaning a lack of proper consultation with the resident or substitute decision-maker responsible for consenting to health care. | |||
Overuse of anti-psychotic medications in seniors’ care is a long-standing problem. Such drugs are often prescribed to residents who may have dementia but no diagnosis of psychosis and may be prescribed without a full discussion of their risks and benefits with the resident or their substitute decision-maker. This violates the basic principle of informed consent to health care set out in the ''Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admissions) Act.'' Risks of anti-psychotics and sedatives include increased confusion, falls, bedsores, blood clots, and potentially serious or fatal interactions with other drugs the adult may be taking. Medication is health care treatment, and residents or their decision-makers should be fully informed about the risks and benefits of any medications and maintain the right to refuse or consent to their use.([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|1]]) | Overuse of anti-psychotic medications in seniors’ care is a long-standing problem. Such drugs are often prescribed to residents who may have dementia but no diagnosis of psychosis and may be prescribed without a full discussion of their risks and benefits with the resident or their substitute decision-maker. This violates the basic principle of informed consent to health care set out in the ''Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admissions) Act.'' Risks of anti-psychotics and sedatives include increased confusion, falls, bedsores, blood clots, and potentially serious or fatal interactions with other drugs the adult may be taking. Medication is health care treatment, and residents or their decision-makers should be fully informed about the risks and benefits of any medications and maintain the right to refuse or consent to their use.([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|1]]) | ||
