A long-term care center interdisciplinary education program for antipsychotic use in dementia: program update five years later.

Background: While antipsychotic (AP) medications are frequently used in long-term care, current evidence suggests that the risks may offset the benefits, necessitating periodic reassessment of their use. The aims of this present study were: (1) to assess rates of AP use five years after our first intervention to determine the long-term impact; and (2) to implement an updated AP reduction educational intervention program at the same center five years later in order to determine whether AP use could be further reduced.

Methods: Participants were residents with dementia receiving AP medication.

Reliability and validity of the Safety Assessment Scale for people with dementia living at home.

Background: With the recent funding changes in health care services, more seniors with dementia are cared for in their homes and the nature of their condition puts them at higher risk for accidents and injuries.

Purpose: The Safety Assessment Scale (SAS) was developed for use by community healthcare providers to evaluate and lower the risk of accidents, provide recommendations to family caregivers and enhance case management. Method.