A pilot project at a Fredericton nursing home that reduces the use of anti-psychotic drugs has been so successful, it’s being expanded.
A study by the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement into the lessoning of these drugs shows a 50 per cent decrease in the risk of stroke, and no increase in aggressive behaviours.
Based on their findings, the foundation believes there would be 2,800 fewer falls among seniors in Nova Scotia, 2,000 in New Brunswick and 500 in Prince Edward Island over the course of five years.
"One of our residents who had not been all that interactive had been up in the unit dancing to music," said Kevin Harter, president of Fredericton’s York Care Centre, where the project began.
The decision to role the program out province-wide will see the use of anti-psychotics reduced in 15 nursing homes in New Brunswick this year, and all nursing homes next year.
"Now we've got to try and increase the scope,” said Michael Keating of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes. “So what about other medications, what about other things that are happening, what about changes for life, all of those things we hope to learn from this."
Eugene McGinley says he’s noticed a difference in his 92-year-old sister, Anna Hanley, since the project began.
Hanley was prescribed anti-psychotic drugs normally used to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. But staff in her new home started slowly removing the drugs from her routine.
"Anna has continued to improve in her general demeanor and her way of just being Anna," said McGinley.
The program has expanded so other families can have the same experience.
"We're beginning the process, the first in Canada, of rolling everything out to the entire province," said Keating.
About six dozen long-term care facilities across the country are taking part in the project.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown.
