Minister of State for Care Services Phil Hope MP visits Four Seasons Health Care
Ahead of the launch of the government crackdown on anti-psychotic drug use, Phil Hope MP, Minister of State for Care Services, visited Uplands Care Home in Streatham, London yesterday to meet residents who are benefiting from the specialised dementia care programme launched by Four Seasons Health Care - which has achieved significant reductions in the use of anti-psychotic medication.
Uplands Care Home, part of the Four Seasons Health Care group, is one of its homes accredited under the group's "PEARL" specialised dementia programme. PEARL, (Positively Enriching And Enhancing Residents Lives) which involves extensive training in dementia care mapping, person centred care, alternative therapies and experiential training. This is resulting in the reduction or removal of the need for anti-psychotic medication, together with improved wellbeing of residents.
Phil Hope MP, witnessed first hand results of the specialist dementia programme at Four Season Health Care where the requirement for anti-psychotic medication usage for people with dementia has been reduced by an average of 50% across eight validated homes that initially took part in the programme. One home saw a reduction in anti-psychotics from 90% to 26% and a reduction of hypnotic drugs usage from 40% to zero, even though more than 60% of their residents had complex nursing needs. The government ordered review announced today has said that up to 150,000 people with dementia are being prescribed drugs unnecessarily and the government are now championing the use of alternative therapies to remove the unnecessary prescription of anti-psychotic drugs.
Phil Hope MP, Minister of State for Care Services met with CEO Pete Calveley, Caroline Baker, Dementia Services Director and care home manager Arthur Tanere, while talking to residents and carers and listening to their feedback. Pete Calveley commented:
"We welcomed meeting with Phil Hope MP and are delighted to hear his promise at championing greater use of psychological therapies rather than relying on drugs - a practice Four Seasons Health Care has championed since the start of our specialised PEARL dementia programme. We are proud to be at the forefront of best practice and help illustrate the positive results of specialist dementia care services".
Four Seasons Health Care now has 12 PEARL- accredited homes. Other homes are currently going through the accreditation process so by mid 2010 the group should have around 60 accredited homes with a view to completing 160 homes by 2012.
The PEARL programme has also been recognised for its market-leading excellence by being awarded the prestigious Guy Rotherham Care Home award by The Improvement Foundation. The Guy Rotherham Awards celebrate the achievements of NHS community-based teams and healthcare professionals in delivering best practice, quality improvements and services to their patients.
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