The overuse of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes is a longstanding and serious problem. Too often, residents, especially those with dementia, are given these powerful drugs to control the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. In fact, antipsychotic drugs are associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, Parkinsonism, falls, and, even, death. They are not clinically indicated for so-called dementia-related psychosis.
While some facilities have taken meaningful steps to reduce unnecessary drugging, others have lagged behind. This page provides federal data on the quarterly antipsychotic drugging rates for all nursing homes. Please visit our Dementia Care Advocacy Toolkit for more information and resources to improve care and quality of life for residents with dementia.