Panagiota Tragantzopoulou, Vaitsa Giannouli and Tragantzopoulou, G. 2025. Dementia Citizenship in Mitigating Global Challenges of Polypharmacy in Long-Term Care. in: Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya (ed.) Health Promotion in Long-Term Care Facilities: The Present Scenario and Future Demands Springer Nature. pp. 41-48
| Chapter title | Dementia Citizenship in Mitigating Global Challenges of Polypharmacy in Long-Term Care |
|---|---|
| Authors | Panagiota Tragantzopoulou, Vaitsa Giannouli and Tragantzopoulou, G. |
| Editors | Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya |
| Abstract | Due to population aging, cognitive decline is considered a major global public health concern. Progressive deterioration in cognitive functioning often leads to significant difficulties in daily living, creating substantial caregiving demands. Given that there is currently no definitive curative treatment for dementia, a shift toward a social model of care is seen as the most promising approach. However, despite growing awareness about the benefits of actively involving people with neurocognitive disorders in their care, the concept of “dementia citizenship” remains challenged due to ongoing stigma and discrimination, even within long-term care settings. Many nursing home and assisted living residents with neurocognitive disorders are victims of psychiatric polypharmacy, particularly antipsychotics, used to manage behavioral symptoms of dementia. In Europe, the challenges of polypharmacy and its management in long-term care are particularly significant, with variations in prescribing practices across countries. The concurrent use of multiple medications, often without appropriate justification, leads to harmful drug interactions and exacerbates the decline in quality of life for already vulnerable individuals. This chapter focuses on the multidimensional strategies to reduce unnecessary antipsychotic medications, particularly in nursing homes, especially their widespread use to control behavioral symptoms of dementia, which is considered a state-of-the-art movement in maintaining residents’ quality of life. |
| Book title | Health Promotion in Long-Term Care Facilities: The Present Scenario and Future Demands |
| Page range | 41-48 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publisher | Springer Nature |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 12 Jun 2025 |
| ISBN | 9783031910371 |
| 9783031910401 | |
| 9783031910388 | |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91038-8_4 |
| Web address (URL) | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91038-8_4 |