8 MARCH 2025ELDERCARE REVIEWBy Melanie Schrock Perry, Home Office Life Enrichment and Cognitive Wellbeing Specialist, Primrose Retirement Communities, LLCEMBRACING HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO DEMENTIA CAREMelanie Perry has been on a Three-decade-long mission, serving those living with memory loss conditions. She has earned degrees in the field of Psychology from Indiana University, the University of St. Francis, and Nova Southeastern Universities. Melanie is currently serving as the Life Enrichment and Cognitive Wellbeing Specialist at the Home Office level for Primrose Retirement Communities and created the Silver Lace Memory Care by Primrose service program on behalf of that great company. A lifelong Indiana Hoosier, Melanie has transitioned to full-time Florida living and now resides in the Tampa, Florida, area.Through this article, Perry highlights that while there has been progress in reducing the use of certain medications, there is a concerning trend of substituting them with other medications with similar harms and questionable benefits.Ask seasoned senior living professionals how the use of psychopharmacological interventions has evolved, and many will tell you we've made progress. Medications such as antipsychotics and opioids are now prescribed less frequently and with greater caution. However, this prompts an important question: Have we truly adopted a holistic, well-being-focused model of care, or have we simply substituted one set of medications for another?A 2023 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests this issue warrants closer examination. While the study highlights a decrease in the use of antipsychotic and opioid medications for managing Melanie Schrock PerryLife enrichment professionals go beyond traditional caregiving, crafting experiences tailored to each individual's history, preferences, and abilities. By addressing unmet needs that manifest as behavioral expressions such as frustration, boredom, or loneliness, they foster emotional well-being and a sense of purpose
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