Canada's population is quickly aging and along with it, the prevalence of dementia.
New information has emerged about how the province of Manitoba is taking the lead when it comes to decreasing the use of anti-psychotic drugs in dementia patients.
Some patients are starting to 'wake-up’ after years of sedation.
When Dan Waters made the tough decision to move his father into a long-term care home, he had doubts.
“It consumed our lives because he was so un happy and you can't help but think did we make a mistake," asked Dan, whose father has Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Dave Waters, Dan’s dad, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his early sixties and, once in his new home, he wasn't himself anymore.
Dan said his dad had been put on anti-psychotic medication.
"He spent different times being very sedated or very agitated. He just wasn't himself," said Dan.
Health Canada has issued warnings about anti-psychotics, linking their use with sedation, strokes, and even early death in dementia patients.
But despite the serious side effects, he pills are still widely used across the country.
A recent report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information says 39 per cent of Canadian dementia patients in long-term care were on anti-psychotics in 2014.
Manitoba is leading the way to get patients off the pills.
The provincial average in 2014 was 31.5 per cent. Now, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says it's now got usage down to 22 per cent.
"That's well below the Canadian average which is around 30 per cent," said Allison Bell, pharmacy manager with WRHA long-term care.
One of the main reasons for the decrease is the change in culture inside care homes.
"Anti-psychotics were never really designed for the behaviours that are associated with dementia to begin with," said Cynthia Sinclair, a Manitoba-based researcher whose work has helped get dementia patients off anti-psychotics across Canada. "We're seeing residents wake up."
Instead of pills, the focus is on teaching staff to pick-up on what could cause a patient to act out and find a solution.
Homes across Manitoba now have staff 'huddles' to discuss what's working and what isn't.
"It has changed our culture tremendously that you are not just adding an anti-psychotic you're looking at other avenues," said Doris Furtado the acting director of residence services at Bethania Group.
"He went from being comatose sedate, not being able to respond at all to really being able to look me in the eye and say hi," said Dan.
Dan eventually moved his dad into a different facility where his anti-psychotic dosage has been significantly reduced.
Dan says his father's health is still declining, but now there are moments when father and son can connect.
"He may not know my name, but he knows that I love him, and to me every time I walk in the door that is worthwhile," said Dan.
The report found New Brunswick had the highest usage of anti-psychotics in Canada.
That province is now looking to have all long-term care homes use a model similar to Manitoba’s.
