Missed diagnoses of reversible dementia are a common occurrence, says the National Institute on Aging, and frontline caregivers are among those who are best positioned to observe changes in resident behavior.
The New York Times reports that the causes of reversible dementia, or “pseudosenility,” include the side effects of many medications. Ditropan was most recently added to a list of medications to treat hypertension, asthma, and Parkinson’s disease that have been found to contribute to a higher rate of cognitive decline.
Medication management is a common need among assisted living residents, and providers operate detailed systems to ensure residents not only receive the medications they need at prescribed times, but also receive much-needed close observation from frontline caregivers.
