Nursing Homes Make Continued Progress Against Anti-Psychotics Misuse

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

The inappropriate use of anti-psychotic medications among nursing home residents has continued to decline, according to the latest report by the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes.  

In 2011, almost a quarter of long-stay nursing home residents were receiving anti-psychotic medication without valid clinical indications for its use. The inappropriate use of these medications declined to 14.6 percent nationwide by the second quarter of 2018, a 38.9 percent decline. 

Prrogress in discontinuing inappropriate anti-psychotic drug use has varied geographically, with some states and regions achieving a decline of more than 40 percent in the use of these medications since 2011. 

LeadingAge and its members have taken a leadership role in the initiative to eliminate inappropriate use of anti-psychotic drugs. While more work remains to be done, we congratulate our nursing home members who have achieved this success.