CMS ranks Texas 48th in nation for antipsychotic misuse in nursing home

A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services report has found one in five Texas nursing home residents are improperly given antipsychotic drugs as a means of restraint.

Texas ranks 48^th in the nation for improperly using antipsychotics.

Amanda Fredriksen, associate director for outreach and advocacy with AARP Texas, says a 2015 state federal review board report recommended a series of nursing home reforms, though many are still awaiting action by the Texas Legislature.

“We are pushing the state to use all of their regulatory authority to move these nursing homes to take this issue very seriously,” she says to Public News Service. “We think more needs to be done to nold nursing home operators accountable.”

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.