Caregiver Perceptions of Antipsychotic Drug Use in Dementia Populations: Investigating How Antipsychotic Medications Are Overused

Antipsychotic drugs have been strongly suggested by many authors to cause great harm to those with dementia. Yet, they are still used in an overabundance in memory care facilities. Caregivers, who spend the most time with residents, often decide when and why people with dementia receive antipsychotic drugs. By examining the background of the relationship between antipsychotic drugs and the dementia population, it is clear that caregivers need more education on antipsychotic medications, better staffing on the average shift, more administrative support to handle medication orders and changes, and better laws and regulations to better reduce the amount of antipsychotic medications being prescribed and administered.