FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dementia Training Seeks Treatment Without Anti-Psychotics
A new model of care intended to eliminate anti-psychotic drugs as treatment for people living with dementia will be introduced to physicians and professional and family caregivers in a free six-hour workshop June 3 at the University of Montana.
Designed and delivered by award-winning author and geriatrician Dr. Allen Power, the “Dementia Beyond Drugs” workshop introduces new approaches to dementia care designed to reduce reliance on anti-psychotic drugs and facilitate meaningful engagement and improved well-being through person-centered practices.
The workshop will take place 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the University of Montana Todd Building and broadcast to a remote audience in the Billings Mansfield Education Center. Dr. Power will lead a roundtable discussion with physicians from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. following the workshop.
Health officials and advocates believe that too many people living with dementia are being prescribed anti-psychotics in an “off-label” use for their sedative effects to control behavior instead of treating dementia symptoms through non-pharmacologic therapy. Anti-psychotics are known to cause dangerous side effects among older people including increased risk of falls, strokes and death.
A national campaign by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare to reduce anti-psychotic drugs in nursing homes has shown evidence of success in some states, including Montana. The prevalence of anti-psychotic drugs in nursing homes dropped nationally from 24 percent in 2011 to 20 percent in 2014. Montana nursing homes reduced anti-psychotic prescriptions from 22 percent to 17 percent of residents statewide ranking the state the 17th lowest in the nation.*
Based on Dr. Power’s award-winning book “Dementia Beyond Drugs”, the goal of the workshop is to improve the over-all well-being of both patients and caregivers by better understanding the experience of dementia and the deep transformations necessary to change the culture of care, Dr. Power said.**
“We need to develop the skill to understand what the person living with dementia is trying to express,” Dr. Power said, rather than just giving out pills to “quiet people down.”
Professional education credits will be provided for nursing, social worker, occupational therapy, and administrators. The workshop is provided by The Village Health Care Center, Harvest Home Care, Mountain-Pacific Quality Health and Montana Geriatric Education Center at the University of Montana.
Sources:
*http://cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2014-Fact-sheets-items/2014-09-19.html
**http://www.alpower.net/gallenpower_bio.htm
WHEN:
Wednesday, June 3rd
9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Round table discussion for physicians with Dr. Power from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m (others are welcome to attend).
WHERE:
University of Montana-Missoula
Todd Building Room 204 (limited seating available)
Mansfield Education Center- Billings
Burns Auditorium
CONTACT to RSVP:
Pamela Longmire, RT, BAS
406-457-5885
Please RSVP to:
Pamela.Longmire@area-H.hcqis.org
The Presenter:
Allen Power, M.D., is a geriatrician, author, musician, and international educator on transformational models of care for older adults, particularly those living with changing cognitive abilities.
