Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSCare home reduces psychotropic drug use in dementia care
A care home in Chesterfield has claimed it has vastly reduced psychotropic drug use with techniques such as doll therapy.
Ashcroft Care Home says only 28% of residents are now being treated with psychotropic drugs, compared to 92% at the start of 2008.
Psychotropic substances act primarily on the central nervous system, resulting in subjective changes in consciousness and mood, and have therefore been the topic of a controversial ethical debate.
Alternative methods such as doll therapy and possible triggers of dementia were investigated by the Ashcroft team after a drug audit on residents in 2008.
Ashcroft Care Home is run by the private provider, Four Seasons Health Care.
Caroline Baker from Four Seasons Health Care said: ‘The results we are seeing from reduced medication and providing complementary therapies have been phenomenal.’
Staff and families have reported that patients are now eating and sleeping better and are more attentive and articulate.
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Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 28-Sep-2010 11:54 am
medication in the care of the elderly has been much over-used and abused to the detriment of the patient and in the name of easing the task of caring and staff shortages. this group of patients need more one to one care and personalised attention and not drugs as a substitute for this. complementary therapies can only be positive as long as they are ethical and respect the dignitiy of the patient and do not belittle them.
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