By 2038, 100,000 Alberta residents are projected to be diagnosed with dementia. Approximately 71 per cent of the estimated 13,000 Albertans living in long-term care facilities have a dementia...
Description
By 2038, 100,000 Alberta residents are projected to be diagnosed with dementia. Approximately 71 per cent of the estimated 13,000 Albertans living in long-term care facilities have a dementia diagnosis. While the cognitive impairment of dementia is devastating, the accompanying symptoms, generally termed the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, are also quite challenging for patients, families and caregivers. The research objective of this study was to summarize the clinical and cost-effectiveness evidence for pharmacological and non-pharmacological alternatives to antipsychotics to support the development of a clinical practice guideline and provincial policy development for the best clinical practice alternatives to antipsychotics use for the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in long-term care facilities in Alberta.