LeadingAge Statement on CMS Partnership to Improve Dementia Care

From Cheryl Phillips, M.D., Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "LeadingAge is pleased to represent not-for-profit nursing homes on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, an initiative to ensure appropriate care and use of antipsychotic medications for residents of nursing homes.

"The long-term solution for reducing antipsychotic use in nursing homes will come from a sustained campaign that teaches caregivers how to provide real person-centered care alternatives. Medications are used often as the first intervention because family members, caregivers, nurses and doctors in ALL settings lack information or training regarding alternatives.

"Programs like Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes are helping educate providers about non-pharmacological interventions. The not-for-profit provider community has been working hard at the local level to implement improvement changes around dementia care, and LeadingAge is committed to continuing its work at the national level.

"We hope our partnership with CMS will help transform nursing homes into centers of excellence for the care of people with advanced dementia and serve as the learning laboratory for other healthcare settings facing this issue.

"The true measure of quality care for people with dementia is care that is person-centered and based on dignity and compassion for the residents and their families."

About LeadingAge
To expand the world of possibilities for aging, LeadingAge members and affiliates touch the lives of millions of individuals, families, employees and volunteers every day. The LeadingAge community (www.LeadingAge.org) includes 5,400 not-for-profit organizations in the United States, 38 state partners, hundreds of businesses, research partners, consumer organizations, foundations and a broad global network of aging services organizations that reach over 30 countries.

The work of LeadingAge is focused on advocacy, leadership development, and applied research and promotion of effective services, home health, hospice, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care communities, nursing homes, as well as technology solutions, to seniors, children, and others with special needs.

SOURCE LeadingAge