Mental health medication rate very high in nursing homes
A recent study reported in the New York Times found that within 3 months of moving into a nursing home, 71% of Florida nursing home residents who received Medicare were being medicated with psychoactive medications--anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, or dementia medication.
The study, which was published in the Journals of Gerontology by researchers at the University of South Florida, found that the majority of these residents--64%--had not been taking these kinds of medications before they moved into the nursing home. A majority of them--71%--had not had any psychiatric diagnosis whatsoever within six months before moving into the nursing home.
Disturbingly, 15% of these residents were taking more than four psychoactive medications.
While nursing home residents are certainly vulnerable to mental health issues, this study's results seem to suggest that many facilities, lacking sufficient staff, turn to medication, rather than hands-on care, to address residents' mental health needs. In fact, only 12% of those residents were getting other forms of mental health care.
Another concern, as the study's lead author, Dr. Victor Molinari, told the Times, with this rate of medication, is that “it could well be that we’re causing problems like falls, confusion and delirium, and hospitalizations.”
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, do not be afraid to ask questions about the medications they are taking, the reasons why the medications are being prescribed, the possible interactions or side effects of those medications, and the alternatives available.
