AARP Foundation advocates for systemic change
in federal and state courts nationwide to advance the legal rights and
interests of older Americans, especially low-income and vulnerable individuals.
Our legal advocacy seeks to address harmful practices or policies of industry,
business, or government, helping older people stay connected to their
communities by tearing down legal barriers and establishing pathways to
economic opportunity and social stability.
One major area of our legal work is our
ongoing goal of reforming the practice of administering drugs to people with
dementia as chemical restraints. According to Human Rights Watch, each week,
nursing facilities administer antipsychotic drugs to people for whom the drugs
are not medically appropriate. The Food and Drug Administration requires drug
manufacturers to include a Black Box Warning on the labels of antipsychotic
drugs cautioning that these drugs can be fatal when used for people with
dementia.
However, AARP Foundation’s experience has
revealed that providers administer these drugs without medical justification
and without informing patients, or their caregivers, of the dangers of these
drugs. Too often, providers give these drugs to staff out of convenience for
their sedative effect, and not because they treat an underlying illness.
AARP Foundation’s litigation unit has been
challenging the use of antipsychotic drugs since 2012. Each case has resulted
in significantly reformed practices, but the demand for more action continues,
and that is why we are working with National Consumer Voice to change the
culture around the use of these medications.
Through this collaboration, we are creating
resources to educate and train residents, families, and professionals with the
goal of reducing the use of these drugs as chemical restraints. We are also
working with nursing schools to ensure that nurses enter the medical field
understanding the risks associated with these medications.
Legal advocacy is a critical and effective
aspect of our work, but legal victories must be paired with culture change in
order to make a lasting difference on issues like these. Collaborations like
these are one of the many ways AARP Foundation works in and out of the courts
to fight on behalf of vulnerable seniors.
For more information about AARP Foundation’s
legal advocacy, visit aarpfoundation.org/advocacy.
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