Using Rehabilitation Therapies to Reduce Antipsychotic Use and ED Visits in Individuals With Dementia

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias represent a significant and growing health care burden in the United States. This article describes the implementation of a rehabilitation-driven, interdisciplinary care model and its impact on antipsychotic medication use and emergency department visits among individuals with dementia in skilled nursing facilities. The approach integrates a research-based dementia staging protocol into occupational, physical, and speech therapies to create individualized care plans that leverage preserved function and the development of customized care strategies.