Did you know that the use of antipsychotic medications is lower in emotion-based models of care?
Queen’s University IRC (Industrial Relations Centre), published a paper in 2019, “Dementia Care Innovation in the Region of Peel” by Francoise Morrisette, which showed that one year after implementing the Butterfly model in long-term care homes, the use of antipsychotic medications was lower and aggressive events were less.
The same result was achieved in the Green House model. George Heckman, a Geriatrician and the Schlegel Research Chair of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Waterloo, said any long-term care homes that want to further reduce the number of antipsychotic drugs prescribed ‘potentially inappropriately’ can adopt the Green House model, which has been studied by his team. “The Green House model data shows antipsychotic use being much lower. They also have fewer hospitalizations. They have a better quality of life. The staff who work there have a better quality of work.” Read more here
Emotion-based model of care is one which has smaller environments, 8-16 residents/unit; communal dining room and kitchen; where full-time staff actually know their residents and where residents, staff and families are all valued as a part of the team sharing times of laughter, joy and meaningful activities.
What is most important is that your family member has quality of life in the years remaining. Learn more about emotion-based models of care at www.changeltcnow.ca and contact your MPP now to advocate for emotion-based models of care in all our long-term care homes!