January 2025 – September 2025

It Starts With Asking Why

Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics in Long-Term Care Action Series

Join our action series to improve resident quality of life through sustainable practices around the appropriate use of antipsychotics in long-term care (AUA in LTC).

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Provincial collaborations like these are what make a difference for this sector…

Michelle Smith, Regional Lead, Interior Health

Improving Quality of Life in Long-Term Care Homes

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our loved ones living in Long-Term Care (LTC) homes by rethinking the role of antipsychotics used to manage behaviours. Let’s start with asking, “Why?” Why are we giving this medication, and what behaviours are we trying to change?

Did You Know?

By reducing the use of antipsychotic medications in long-term care, we can decrease the risk of several adverse effects.

  • Metabolic Disturbances and Urinary Tract Infections
  • Weight gain, dry mouth, and dizziness
  • Somnolence and drowsiness
  • Abnormal gait, injury, falls, and hip fractures
  • Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS)
  • Cardiovascular adverse events (e.g., stroke)
  • Death

AUA in LTC Action Series Overview

This video provides an overview of the AUA in LTC Action Series and what you can expect from participation.

In this Action Series, LTC homes will learn from each other, and from clinical and quality improvement experts, on how to embed sustainable practices that support the appropriate use of antipsychotics (AUA). Utilizing a new interactive toolkit, learning webinars and coaching calls, you will be guided through identifying your home’s strengths and priority areas, and taking action to reduce unnecessary antipsychotic medications in a safe manner, when appropriate.

Focus is on 8 Key Elements to Facilitate Quality of Life Improvements

  • Leadership Support
  • RAI Assessments
  • Interdisciplinary Team
  • Medication Reviews & Management
  • Care Planning & Documentation
  • Family Engagement
  • Staff Training & Culture
  • Non-Pharmacological Approaches

Expectations of Participation

To fully engage in the program, participating LTC homes are expected to:

  • Attend all five learning webinars
  • Use the improvement guide that will be provided to create a specific aim and work to reduce the rate of potentially inappropriate use of antipsychotics
  • Attend monthly coaching calls
  • Submit monthly report template with data on key measures for improvement
  • Work with an interdisciplinary team to make improvements
  • Complete a self-assessment at the start of the Action Series

There is no cost to participate.

AUA in LTC Action Series Timeline

Learn

Learning webinars all take place from 1200-1300 PT. At least one member of your team is expected to attend. Each webinar will be followed by an optional 30-minute Q&A session with clinical and quality improvement experts.

Coach

Each month there will be one-hour group coaching calls scheduled. After registration closes, coaching groups will be organized by health regions and topic areas. One-to-one coaching supports will also be available to care homes on an as-needed basis.

Practice

Following each coaching call, care homes will use their AUA in LTC Improvement Guide to bring ideas into practice in their home and share milestones at the following month’s coaching call. To support your improvement journey, a template will be provided for data submissions and will be due at the end of each month.

TIMELINE

January 10, 2025

Last Day to Register

January 22, 2025

Learning Webinar 1

Getting started with the toolkit

January 31, 2025

Complete self-assessment

February 19, 2025

Learning Webinar 2

Priorities in your AUA work

March 19, 2025

Learning Webinar 3

Interdisciplinary team approaches

May 21, 2025

Learning Webinar 4

Deep dive into the 8 key elements

September 17, 2025

Learning Webinar 5

Celebrating and holding the gains

AUA in LTC Action Series Frequently Asked Questions

An action series is a learning technique used to support improvements in specific areas of focus and provides teams the opportunity to work together on issues that are impacting
them[1]. The It Starts With Asking Why Action Series on the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics in Long-Term Care (AUA in LTC) includes learning webinars, opportunities to connect with other homes, and expert coaching supports. Homes will be led through their changes using a newly created toolkit that contains a self-assessment, a guide to improvement, key resources, tools and templates to make, measure and sustain changes. It enables teams to focus on what matters to them and work towards a shared goal.

All LTC homes in BC who want to prioritize the appropriate use of antipsychotics to improve the quality of life for residents, families and staff can participate.

Nothing! There is no cost to participate for LTC homes across BC.

Yes! Health Quality BC and Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) have partnered together to combine the Action Series with the Awards Program so that BC homes who are interested in advancing person-centred care through AUA and innovative, non-pharmacological approaches can streamline their participation in both. You can sign-up for both programs by completing the registration form on this page.

Click here for more information on the HEC program and how your team can win monetary awards. Space is limited and first come first serve!

Have a question that’s not answered here? Reach out to us at longtermcare@healthqualitybc.ca.

Ready to improve the lives of residents in your long-term care home?

Register Now for the It Starts With Asking Why Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics in Long-Term Care Action Series

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Learn more about the Healthcare Excellence Canada’s Sparking Change in AUA Awards Program. HQBC will provide a registration code for BC LTC homes interested in participating in the program, and will also be providing coaching supports for awards applications over the course of the 15-month program. Space is limited and first come first serve!

After signing up, you will be enrolled in the Action Series newsletter which will be the main source of communication during the series. The email newsletters originate from our provider, CyberImpact, and you’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time.

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Collection Notice: This information is collected by Health Quality BC under section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act for the purposes of delivering the AUA in LTC action series. If you have any questions about the collection of this personal information, please contact us at longtermcare@healthqualitybc.ca.