Dementia Beyond Drugs

Years before the federal government started setting goals to reduce the use of psychotropic drugs in long-term care settings, Dr. Al Power argued eloquently in his trailblazing book Dementia Beyond Drugs about the harm done by these medications in the symptomatic treatment of dementia. This revised second edition introduces new research, language, and examples to reinforce the core message that antipsychotic medications are not the solution to ease the distress experienced by individuals living with dementia, and presents alternative solutions for providing respectful, individualized support and care.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Discussion of new drug studies and government reports on the dangers and ineffectiveness of antipsychotic medications in the dementia population
• Innovative practices in dementia care
• A pathway to meet and exceed the drug-reduction goals established by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

About the Author

G. Allen Power, M.D. is a board-certified internist and geriatrician and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester, New York. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine, and an international educator on transformational models of care for older adults, particularly those living with changing cognitive abilities.

Dr. Power’s book, Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care was named a 2010 Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing. He served on the technical advisory panel for the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for their national antipsychotic reduction initiative. Dr. Power was interviewed for the film Alive Inside, winner of the Audience Award for Best U.S. Documentary at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. He also was a member of the Scientific Program Committee and a Keynote speaker for Alzheimer’s Disease International 2015 in Perth, Western Australia.

Dr. Power was named one of “Five Leaders of Tomorrow” by Long-Term Living Magazine in May 2013. His second book, Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being was released by Health Professions Press in June 2014.

An accomplished musician and songwriter, Dr. Power’s music has been performed on three continents. His song of elder autonomy, “If You Don’t Mind,” was performed by Peter, Paul, and Mary, and Walter Cronkite used his song, “I’ll Love You Forever” in a 1995 Discovery Channel documentary on American families.