SF Weekly – October 26, 2011

by Peter Jamison

Click image to watch video: Psychiatric Abuse of the Elderly

According to the San Francisco-based organization California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), more than 25,000 California nursing-home residents are being given anti-psychotic drugs. That’s about a quarter of the state’s nursing-home population, and according to CANHR and other elder-rights activists, it’s a figure that’s way too high — particularly considering the negative side effects these medications can have.

“They’re being sedated into zombie-hood,” says CANHR staff lawyer Tony Chicotel. He adds that anti-psychotic medications increase the risk of death among seniors, are prescribed in place of more effective non-drug methods for handling patients with dementia, and are often give without obtaining patients’ consent.

“They’re very rarely asked whether they want to take the medication,” Chicotel says.

For More information watch this video or read all the facts here

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Tags: antipsychotics, dementia, drugging the elderly, nursing homes

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