Is Your Loved One Over-medicated?

A recent article in the New York Times entitled "Doctors Say Medication is Overused in Dementia" highlights what I believe should be a real for concern to those of us with loved ones in long-term care facilities. According to the article, researchers estimate that about one third of all nursing home residents are currently prescribed antipsychotic medications. The Times further reported that a 2006 study of Alzheimer's patients showed that a majority of them received no benefit from taking antipsychotic medications over that provided by a placebo. In many cases, such medications are used to "take the edge off" of aggressive, combative or paranoid type behaviors in long-term-care facility residents. Unfortunately, the effect of such medications is all too often very debilitating and in some cases, can even cause premature death.

What can you do if you suspect that over-medication is a factor in the declining heath of a loved one? The Times article points out that one should speak directly with the prescribing doctor to make sure that you fully understand each medication that is being prescribed, what it is for, and why the doctor believes it is the best medication for the situation. Do not make the mistake of working only through nursing staff on these important issues.

I have learned from my own personal experience that it is difficult to get results when dealing only with nursing staff. To be sure, nurses play an important role in the care of the residents and do a majority of the day-to-day interaction and care of facility residents. However, they are simply not trained at the same level as doctors when it comes to medications. If you feel that you're not getting results when working with the nursing staff, do not hesitate to ask for a meeting or phone call from the attending physician.

When my own father moved into a new facility and began a new medication regimen, his physical state declined very rapidly to the point where he could no longer walk or swallow without choking. I spoke with the nurses assigned to my father for two weeks with no results. I was told repeatedly that they would bring the issue up with the doctor. It wasn't until I politely, but firmly, insisted that I speak with no one less than the facility's attending physician that things began to change. Within weeks we began to notice real improvements in my dad's condition. The reality in most care facilities is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you don't advocate on behalf of your loved one and insist that the level of care that was promised is in fact delivered, such care will likely to take a back seat to other pressing issues on the minds of the facility staff and administration.

In addition, if speaking with the attending physician has not improved the situation, there is nothing preventing you from seeking a second opinion. Often, a fresh medical perspective on the treatment plan for a patient suffering from dementia can make a world of difference.