A Hidden Shame in Nursing Homes

<p>For decades, the law has sought to restrain nursing homes from trying to control the behavior of dementia patients with antipsychotic drugs, which are known to have adverse health effects. </p><p>An alarming rise in schizophrenia diagnoses suggests some homes have found a way to skirt the rules.</p><p>We hear the story of David Blakeney, a dementia sufferer whose health declined rapidly after he was placed in a South Carolina nursing home.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/katie-thomas?smid=pc-thedaily">Katie Thomas</a>, a reporter covering the business of health care for The New York Times. </p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>A Times investigation into the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/11/health/nursing-homes-schizophrenia-antipsychotics.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> widespread use of antipsychotic drugs</a> in nursing homes. </li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit </p><p><a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a></p><p>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>