Getting dressed, folding laundry and setting the table for dinner are everyday tasks done without much thought or effort by most. For those struggling with Alzheimer’s, these common activities can be a source of constant frustration. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and efforts are underway to help others grasp the effects of the disease.
Simulation activities using special goggles, gloves and headphones to create impaired sight, touch and hearing can increase understanding of what an individual with Alzheimer’s experiences. While increased awareness is helpful, balancing safety with quality of life can be challenging for healthcare professionals and caregivers.
While antipsychotic medications have been used to manage challenging behaviors of individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, for many, these powerful drugs generally pose more risks than benefits and should be used with extreme caution and consideration. Training and technical assistance on the use of alternative methods and non-pharmacological approaches requires time and effort, but can prove to be valuable.
For example, Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison, SD, implemented non-pharmacological approaches from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hand in Hand Toolkit and saw staff engagement and satisfaction increase as daily frustrations decreased.
Nursing Home Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) tools provided by CMS provides a framework and process for maintaining and improving safety and quality using a systematic, comprehensive and data-driven approach.
Using QAPI and other resources, Great Plains QIN content experts provide support and technical assistance for nursing homes. Reduction of antipsychotic drug use is just one of the many quality improvement areas nursing homes can address to achieve a 6.0 or less on the National Nursing Home Composite Quality Measure. Visit our Web site to learn more.