Centre for Policy on Ageing



Pearl programme — a specialised dementia service
Journal title	BGS Newsletter, no 43, June 2013
Publisher	British Geriatrics Society, June 2013
Pages	pp 19-20
Source	www.bgsnet.org.uk
Keywords	Dementia ; Residents [care homes] ; Nursing homes ; Medical care ; Drugs.
Annotation	A second phase of the PEARL (Positively Enriching And enhancing Residents' Lives) care programme declares a dramatic reduction in the requirement for antipsychotic medication with improvement in well-being. The PEARL programme originated in 2007, when a former GP Dr Peter Calveley had become concerned at the routine use of such medication to keep patients quiet and compliant. This short article outlines simple principles used such as addressing people by their name, and knowing where they like their hair parting. PEARL also uses Dementia Care Mapping (DCM), on which care staff are trained. A study of 16 accredited homes found that use of antipsychotic medication was reduced by an average 48%. Instead, analgesics were used to control pain, an under-recognised and under-treated aspect of dementia care. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-130621221 A
Classmark	EA: KX: LHB: LK: LLD
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.