CFHI and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador join forces to improve dementia care

ST. JOHN'S, June 4, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador today announced that 39 long term care organizations will participate in an 18-month province-wide program designed to improve dementia care through more appropriate use of antipsychotic medications.

Deborah Hawksley (L) and Ethel Picco enjoying music in the lounge room at St. Patrick's Mercy Home in St. John's, Newfoundland. Photo credit: Paul Daly (CNW Group/Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement)

The Quality of Life for Residents in Long Term Care: The Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics (AUA) Collaborative will help reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotics and the risks associated with their use such as worsening cognitive functioning, confusion, dizziness, sleepiness, stroke and falls. It will also improve the quality and experience of dementia care for residents, families and staff.

Provincial long term homes will collaborate with nine homes from Prince Edward Island and five from the Seniors Quality Leap Initiative, a North American network of long term care organizations focused on clinical care and the safety of seniors.

Since 2014, CFHI has supported over 140 long term care organizations from across Canada to improve the appropriate use of antipsychotic medication and the quality of life for residents through a pan-Canadian collaborative, as well as province-wide scale up in New Brunswick and Quebec. This new program will build on their success.

CFHI is providing $58,500 in funding in addition to significant support to spread the AUA approach, including dedicated CFHI staff to manage collaborative activities, coaching and faculty support, an online resource hub with standardized education to support person centred approaches, and evaluation support. The province will provide $319,000 over three years to fund staff to support implementation and sustainability.  

CFHI will provide tailored learning and coaching to help interprofessional teams – nurses, personal care workers, physicians, pharmacists and administrators —use data to identify patients who may benefit from non-drug therapies to treat behaviours related to dementia. Equipped with better information about each resident, direct care staff can then work with families to tailor services and provide personalized care and individualized therapies.  

A provincial advisory committee will be created to oversee the program. The committee will include representatives from each regional health authority, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Health and Community Services and CFHI.    

The AUA Approach has already demonstrated success:

• The pan-Canadian AUA collaborative, resulted in a 54 percent reduction in the inappropriate use of antipsychotics. Results showed significant reductions in socially inappropriate behaviour, resistance to care and a 20 percent decrease in falls.
• Phase 1 of the New Brunswick collaborative saw a 43 percent reduction in the inappropriate use of antipsychotics and the number of falls decreased by one-third.
• Residents who had their antipsychotics reduced or eliminated became more socially engaged, were better able to eat independently, and became more wakeful, improving the experience of care for families and staff.

According to CFHI President Maureen O'Neil, the overuse of these medications is an issue across Canada – and around the world – but there is hope. "In 2016-17, about 22 percent of residents of Canadian long-term care homes were on an antipsychotic without a diagnosis of psychosis, but just 5 years ago that rate was 32 percent," says Ms. O'Neil. "Our experience supporting the appropriate use of antipsychotics across Canada demonstrates that it is possible to improve dementia care and reduce the inappropriate use of these medications through person-centred approaches."

"Through our participation in this initiative, Newfoundland and Labrador is working to improve the care, as well as the health and safety of long-term care residents with dementia. The program will result in more individualized person-centred care plans and greater involvement of families where appropriate to help with the care of their loved ones," says the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Teams in Newfoundland and Labrador include:

Eastern Health
1. Waterford Hospital	St. John's
2. Dr. Walter Templeman Health Centre	Bell Island
3. The Agnes Pratt Home	St. John's
4. Salvation Army Glenbrook Lodge	St. John's
5. Pleasant View Towers	St. John's
6. Saint Luke's Homes	St. John's
7. St. Patrick's Mercy Homes	St. John's
8. Caribou Memorial Veteran's Pavilion	St. John's
9. Chancellor Park	St. John's
10. Lion's Manor Nursing Home	Placentia
11. Private Josiah Squibb Memorial Pavilion	Carbonear
12. Golden Heights Manor	Bonavista
13. Bonavista Protective Community Residence	Bonavista
14. U.S. Memorial Health Centre	St. Lawrence
15. Blue Crest Inter Faith Home	Grand Bank
16. Dr. Albert O'Mahoney Memorial Manor	Clarenville
17. Clarenville Protective Community Residence	Clarenville
Central Health
18. Notre Dame Bay Memorial Health Centre	Twillingate
19. Fogo Island Health Centre	Fogo Island
20. Bonnews Lodge	New-Wes-Valley
21. Lakeside Homes	Gander
22. Connaigre Peninsula Health Centre	Harbour Breton
23. Dr. Hugh Twomey  Health Centre	Botwood
24. Baie Verte Health Centre	Baie Verte
25. A. M. Guy Memorial Health Centre	Buchans
26. North Haven Manor and Protective Community Residence	Lewisporte
27. Valley Vista Senior Citizen's Home	Springdale
28. Carmelite House	Grand Falls-Windsor
Western Health
29. Dr. Charles L. Legrow Health Centre	Port aux Basques
30. Calder Health Centre	Burgeo
31. Bonne Bay Health Centre	Norris Point
32. Rufus Guinchard Health Centre	Port Saunders
33. Bay St. George Long Term Care Home	Stephenville Crossing
34. Corner Brook Long Term Care Home	Corner Brook
35. Protective Community Residences	Corner Brook
Labrador/ Grenfell
36. John M. Gray Health Centre & Complex	St. Anthony
37. Labrador West Health Centre	Labrador City
38. Labrador South Health Centre	Forteau
39. Happy Valley Goose Bay Long Term Care Home	Happy Valley-Goose Bay

For more information: http://www.cfhi-fcass.ca/WhatWeDo/appropriate-use-of-antipsychotics

About CFHI

The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement identifies proven innovations and accelerates their spread across Canada, improving patient care, the health of Canadians and value-for-money. CFHI is a not-for-profit organization funded by Health Canada. Visit cfhi-fcass.ca for more information.

The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.

SOURCE Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

For further information: Christine LaRocque, Senior Communications Specialist, CFHI, Cell: 343-998-5143, [email protected]; Emily Timmins, Media Relations, ManagerHealth and Community Services, Government of Newfoundland and LabradorOffice: [phone], Cell: [phone], [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cfhi-fcass.ca