My father has Alzheimer's and is taking medication, but his condition is getting worse. Help!?

Sorry to hear about your father's condition. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease, which results in certain areas of the brain deteriorating. This may result in aggresive and violent behaviors in some individuals due to psychiatric complications of dementia. I understand your concerns. And I understand the protective oversight of the nursing home. In your next care plan meeting, or the next time you go to the nursing home...speak with the Director of Nursing and share your concerns. Ask the DON specifically about some of the "behaviors" your dad is exhibiting, and ask her if she can explain his psychiatric evaluation/physician assessment. If he is only on PRN medication, that sometimes does not work because it is after the fact. Some individuals with dementia who exhibit psychiatric symptoms, to include aggression do need routine medication to keep him/herself safe and other residents safe. Someone mentioned something about "malpractice". There is no malpractice. The main issue is safety. If your father were to hurt another resident, then that family could have a lawsuit against the nursing home and you as the family...especially if the family refuses to have their loved one on medications to manage psychiatric symptoms. And thus, this results in the resident harming another resident.

Unfortunately, as your dad's disease progresses, his psychiatric symptoms will also increase. I would encourage you to ask the nursing home if he can routinely be assessed by the psychiatrist to determine whether anything can be done to try to manage his aggression. Ativan is used for anxiety, but for some people it does not help them with aggression or other violent behaviors. This is so difficult.......because while there is no FDA approved drug for managing behaviors with Alzheimer's........there are medications that need to be used once the individual exhibits psychiatric symptoms that are not easily redirected or pose a risk to his/her safety and the safety of others.

No easy answer, because each person with Alzheimer's disease progresses differently, as the brain slowly loses function. Some people do become extremely aggressive; while others may have no psychiatric symptoms at all. This disease is tough.

You should get your father off of Seroquel (Quetiapine is the drug, Seroquel is the brand name) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Quetiapine is NOT APPROVED by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of behavioral problems in older adults with dementia (see the link in sources below).

I couldn't find anything wrong with your father taking Ativan, but I worry that the nursing home is just trying to keep him drugged/docile instead of doing their job, especially since they are giving him Seroquel which they should not be doing.

I am not a doctor (or lawyer), but it seems that you might have a malpractice suit on your hands.

Regardless of if you decide to sue or not, I would talk to other nursing homes in the area, and express your concerns about the drugs this nursing home has your father on. Hopefully you can find a better home where he can have the care he deserves.

The medications for Alzheimer's can sometimes slow the progression of the condition, but they are not curative or preventative. Matter of fact the meds he is on are anti psychotics to help with his agitation. His condition and mentality will continue to deteriorate as the course of the disease progresses.