Mass. nursing homes miss out on federal grant to curb inappropriate sedative use

Nursing Homes In Massachusetts will not get a federal grant to help them drive down use of antipsychotic drugs. In Kansas, officials launched a campaign to encourage reporting of elder abuse.

Boston Globe: Nursing Homes Miss Out On Aid Targeting Antipsychotic Drugs
Massachusetts nursing homes, which recently pledged to lower their rate of antipsychotic use by 15 percent this year, found out Friday that they will not be receiving a coveted federal grant that would have helped fund the initiative to drive down inappropriate use of the powerful sedatives. Under the proposal, developed by researchers at the University of Massaschusetts Medical School, nursing home staff would be trained on alternative methods of managing difficult behaviors by residents, particularly those with dementia, instead of relying on antipsychotic drugs to calm them (Lazar, 6/16).

Kansas Health Policy Institute: SRS Urges Public To Report Elder Abuse, Exploitation
Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services officials today rolled out an informational campaign aimed at encouraging the public to report elder abuse and exploitation. "It is not widely known that our elderly or disabled adults can be targets of physical or financial abuse or neglect by their caregivers," said Jim Kallinger, deputy secretary in charge of integrated services at SRS. Kallenger, a former Florida legislator and chief child advocate for the Florida governor's office, spoke during a mid-morning rally outside the Statehouse (Ranney, 6/15).