Nursing Home Residents in Sedation Overdrive: Too Many Seniors Drugged with Pills, AOK Warns
Excessive Use of Sedative Pills on Nursing Home Residents - Overabundance of nursing home residents drugged with prescription medications
Get ready to rethink your perception of Germany's nursing homes. The health insurer AOK has sounded the alarm, reporting an alarming number of residents being overmedicated with sedatives and sleep aids. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern alone, a staggering 4.6% of all nursing home residents have a long-term prescription for benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine derivatives, and Z-substances, implying that one in every 22 nursing home residents is unnecessarily dosed with these chemicals. Nationwide, the figure is even more alarming, with 7.14% — that's one out of every 14 residents — under the influence of these drugs.
While these medications are said to provide temporary sedative, calming, and anxiety-reducing effects, their benefits wane after just four weeks. Prolonged use, however, can lead to dependence, increased fall risk, and the onset of anxiety and depression.
"In Germany, these substances are among the most frequently potentially misprescribed medications for the elderly," remarked Susann Behrendt from AOK's Scientific Institute. The increased long-term use of sedatives is often associated with a shortage of staff. The data provided dates back to 2023.
D cult Care for Diabetics Neglected
To make matters worse, 76% of nursing home residents with diabetes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern did not receive proper eye care in 2023. Across Germany, this figure was a staggering 79.2%. "Regular eye checks are crucial for early detection of changes in the retina and preventing irreversible vision loss," explained AOK.
Surprisingly, nursing home residents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern experience fewer critical events than the national average. Nationwide, 16.2% of all nursing home residents required hospitalization after a fall, compared to 13% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Vorpommern-Greifswald Leads in Fall Rates
Within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the range varies from 11.2% in Vorpommern-Rügen to 15.1% in Vorpommern-Greifswald for falls. Pressure sores (decubitus) affect 11.3% of nursing home residents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, compared to the national average of 12.5%. Within the state, the range is from 9.2% pressure sores in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district to 15.1% in Schwerin, the state capital.
- AOK
- Nursing Home
- Nursing Home Resident
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Berlin
Concerns and Impact
- Cognitive Decline: Long-term sedative use can worsen cognitive decline, affecting memory, attention, and overall cognitive function.
- Falls and Injuries: Sedatives can impair balance and coordination, contributing to a higher risk of falls and associated injuries.
- Dependence and Withdrawal: Prolonged sedative use can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms when attempts are made to discontinue the medication.
- Increased Anticholinergic Burden: Many sedatives contain anticholinergic properties, which can lead to additional adverse effects such as confusion, dry mouth, and others[2].
Solutions and Prevention
- Promote Non-Pharmacological Interventions: Encourage the use of alternative strategies, such as behavioral therapy or environmental modifications, to reduce agitation and improve sleep quality.
- Staff Training: Improve training for healthcare workers on the safe and judicious use of sedatives, as well as alternatives for managing symptoms.
- Policy Changes: Develop and implement nationwide guidelines emphasizing the cautious use of sedatives.
- Deprescribing Initiatives: Implement deprescribing initiatives from worldwide studies to review medication lists, identify unnecessary prescriptions, and reduce sedatives where possible.
- In the shocking alarm raised by AOK, it's noted that one out of every 22 nursing home residents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has a long-term prescription for sedatives, a concerning statistic that underscores the need for community policy changes to promote the judicious use of such medications.
- Given the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and mental health issues among the elderly population, it's essential that nursing homes prioritize health and wellness, offering vocational training programs for residents struggling with medical-conditions or chronic-diseases, as part of a holistic approach to care that supports their cognitive health, mental health, and overall quality of life.
- To address the worrying neglect of diabetics in nursing homes, as evidenced by the 76% of diabetic residents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern not receiving proper eye care, it's crucial that a greater emphasis is placed on therapies and treatments for managing this condition, such as regular check-ups and education on health-and-wellness practices.
