The Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care states that long-term care facilities must assure that a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia receives the appropriate treatment and services to attain or maintain his or her highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. The use of psychotropic medications in residents with dementia does not always contribute to the highest potential of the residents. In this webinar, Dr. Sonntag will identify when it is appropriate to use these medications.  In addition he will review the importance of specifying and monitoring the target behavior for which a medication or non-pharmacologic intervention is being used, as well as ideas on how to engage your medical director, physicians, and/or nurse practitioners in your efforts to reduce the inappropriate use of these medications.

Audience

Long term care staff.

Objectives­

• Identify two appropriate and two inappropriate indications for the use of antipsychotic medications
• Describe how to identify and monitor target behaviors to support antipsychotic use
• Describe two non-pharmacologic approaches to address a target behavior
• Describe two ways to engage your medical director/physicians/nurse practitioners in your efforts to eliminate the inappropriate use of psychotropic medications

Speakers

Robert Sonntag, MD, has made it his mission to help nurses and other health professionals working in long term care to learn new skills to improve the care of the elderly. He offers a unique approach, sharing his clinical experience and expertise, and anecdotes that make his presentations memorable and useful. As one of the first certified medical directors in Minnesota, Dr. Sonntag is the  Medical Director for 7 nursing facilities in Minneapolis. In his medical director role, his primary purpose is to educate others, and, as a result, provide better care to those in long term care. He is also certified in the following: internal medicine, geriatrics, hospice and palliative care.

Recording

Visit YouTube to view Webinar | Dementia Care: Identifying and Managing Target Behaviors.

Handouts

Download slide handouts PDF for Webinar | Dementia Care: Identifying and Managing Target Behaviors.

Contact

If you have questions or concerns, contact Jenna Kornberg, 952-853-8583, jkornberg@stratishealth.org.