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Part 1

Use of antipsychotic drugs raises alarm

Federal data obtained by the Globe show many nursing homes make heavy use of antipsychotic drugs to pacify residents

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  • Betty Lee, a resident at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley nursing home in Littleton, talked to her baby doll during activity time.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Betty Lee, a resident at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley nursing home in Littleton, talked to her baby doll during activity time.
  • Activities assistant Irene Hudson led residents, from left, Charles Kennelly, Ann Mazurek, Hermine Hatalski, Rosemond Curley (hot pink), and Marjorie Bontempo (light blue) in a ball-tossing game at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley. The center reduced the use of antipsychotics by focusing on other ways to calm and comfort patients.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Activities assistant Irene Hudson led residents, from left, Charles Kennelly, Ann Mazurek, Hermine Hatalski, Rosemond Curley (hot pink), and Marjorie Bontempo (light blue) in a ball-tossing game at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley. The center reduced the use of antipsychotics by focusing on other ways to calm and comfort patients.
  • Llamas are used in animal therapy at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley. The facility tailors care and activities to individual personalities.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Llamas are used in animal therapy at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley. The facility tailors care and activities to individual personalities.
  • Activity coordinator Irene Hudson, right, talked with resident Marjorie Bontempo during a visit from Travis the llama (also a resident) at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Activity coordinator Irene Hudson, right, talked with resident Marjorie Bontempo during a visit from Travis the llama (also a resident) at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton.
  • Erica Labb, program director of the dementia care unit at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, engaged with resident Richard Pinkham.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Erica Labb, program director of the dementia care unit at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, engaged with resident Richard Pinkham.
  • Gert Diette, left, a resident at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, chuckled as she took a break from her bingo game to be introduced to Travis the llama, who was led around the nursing home by Nikki Gibbons, an activity coordinator and "llama whisperer" at the nursing home. At right is resident Kay Page.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Gert Diette, left, a resident at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, chuckled as she took a break from her bingo game to be introduced to Travis the llama, who was led around the nursing home by Nikki Gibbons, an activity coordinator and "llama whisperer" at the nursing home. At right is resident Kay Page.
  • Alison Weingartner of Beverly visited her mother, Rosanne Murphy, at Prescott House nursing home in North Andover. Murphy was given high doses of the powerful antipsychotic drug Seroquel for several years at a previous nursing home. She suffered seizures and falls.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Alison Weingartner of Beverly visited her mother, Rosanne Murphy, at Prescott House nursing home in North Andover. Murphy was given high doses of the powerful antipsychotic drug Seroquel for several years at a previous nursing home. She suffered seizures and falls.
  • Alison Weingartner of Beverly visited her mother, Rosanne Murphy, at Prescott House nursing home in North Andover.
    Dina Rudick/globe staff
    Alison Weingartner of Beverly visited her mother, Rosanne Murphy, at Prescott House nursing home in North Andover.
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