Off-label use of antipsychotics higher in nursing homes with lower registered nurse staffing, MU study finds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – At least 5.7 million people in the U.S. have a form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s, including more than half of all nursing home residents. Previous research has shown that nursing homes often overmedicate dementia patients with antipsychotic medications despite the fact that the FDA has not approved these medications for the treatment of dementia. Now, new research from the University of Missouri has found that increased staffing of registered nurses in Missouri nursing homes is associated with lower use of antipsychotics. (more…)