Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care: “Listening to Elderly Cuts Use of Costly Medications,” Ecumen Awakenings Featured in Minneapolis Star Tribune
So many people across Ecumen have made Ecumen Awakenings possible and are contributing to the program's learnings and growth. It is innovation that empowers and honors those with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia while underscoring our mission and vision. Saturday's front-page article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune features a long story on this great work. Thank you to everyone who makes Awakenings possible and to our colleagues and customers at Ecumen Parmly LifePointes who opened their lives and shared their experiences with the newspaper.
You can read the article by clicking here: Listening to elderly cuts use of costly medications
Or cut and paste the following url into your browser: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/236822161.html.
About Ecumen Awakenings:
Ecumen Awakenings™ is working to transform America’s culture of care for people living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Awakenings improves lives and care experiences while achieving the optimum benefits and balance of non-pharmacological and biomedical approaches. Offered by leading non-profit Ecumen, Awakenings is an empowering, collaborative approach to care that honors one’s individuality and abilities while enriching lives.
This collaboration of the person, care professionals, physicians, pharmacists and loved ones often leads to reduction or elimination of antipsychotic medication use and prevents many people from moving to antipsychotics, which carry significant health risks for older adults. “Awakenings” occur as behavioral symptoms decrease and one’s abilities and personality emerge.