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Sparking Change in the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics

An awards-based quality improvement program supporting the appropriate use of antipsychotics through person-centred care in long-term care homes.
Topics
  • Aging in place
  • Long-term care
  • Patient safety
Audience

  • Healthcare leader

  • Point of care provider

  • Policy advisor or analyst

The Sparking Change in the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics Awards Program supports long-term care homes across Canada to use person-centred approaches and reduce the potentially inappropriate use of antipsychotics for people living with dementia

Sparking Change in the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics Awards Program (Sparking Change) provides resources, coaching and financial award opportunities to up to 500 teams in long-term care (LTC) settings working to decrease the potentially inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications without a diagnosis of psychosis. Prescribing rates rose during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain high in many LTC homes, making this work more important than ever.

Improvement with impact

Long-term care homes enrolled in Sparking Change in AUA are already seeing meaningful change by rethinking how they respond to behaviours and centring care around each resident’s individual needs.

At Chartwell Crescent Gardens in British Columbia, the team reduced inappropriate antipsychotic use by 33 percent through individualized care plans, staff training and strong family engagement.

At Lewisporte Health Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador, two residents regained the ability to speak, eat and engage in daily life after antipsychotics were discontinued.

How we're supporting teams

Sparking Change recognizes the important work already underway in long-term care homes across the country. More than just a quality improvement initiative, the program offers a meaningful opportunity to:

  • Improve safety, engagement, and quality of life for residents

  • Build staff skills and confidence in deprescribing

  • Reduce medication-related risks and adverse events

  • Join a pan-Canadian network of LTC teams working toward the same goals

Running until February 2026, Sparking Change supports participating teams through a flexible program model and the chance to earn financial awards for their efforts. Teams can opt in and out to best suit their goals, based on their interest and capacity. The program curriculum includes:

  • Award opportunities ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per home

  • Step-by-step tools to implement AUA practices

  • Dedicated coaching to guide your progress

  • Peer learning and knowledge sharing with other LTC teams

All long-term care (LTC) homes in Canada were eligible to join.  Read the full Terms and Conditions (PDF) of the program. 

While registration is now closed (as of October 1, 2025), the program continues to provide support and resources to participating teams.

Participating teams

Map of Canada with purple bubbles indicating the number of participating teams by province/territory. The largest bubbles are in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Ontario. Full counts in the long description.

A total of 341 teams across 11 provinces and territories are part of Sparking Change in the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics.

Teams include long-term care homes from across the country all focusing on person centred care to improve quality of life and reduce the potentially inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications for people living with dementia.

Together, these teams are part of a growing community of changemakers who continue to share ideas, learn together, and lead meaningful improvements in care for residents across Canada.

Proven Impact of the AUA approach

  • In Quebec, the OPUS-AP program reduced or discontinued antipsychotic use in over 85% of participating residents with major neurocognitive disorders, without an increase in behavioural symptoms or falls

  • German-Canadian Care Home (PDF) in British Columbia cut antipsychotic use from 44% to 31.6% in just over a year

  • In Newfoundland and Labrador, 52% of participating residents had their antipsychotic medications reduced or discontinued, without an observed increase in aggressive behaviours

Check out our AUA Toolbox which contains resources that have helped to guide LTC homes to successful deprescribing initiatives.

Why this work matters

Antipsychotic medications are often used to manage responsive behaviours in dementia, but they can cause serious side effects like confusion, stroke, and even death.

From 2014 to 2020, the rate of potentially inappropriate antipsychotic use in LTC homes across the country fell from 27.2% to 20.2%. But the COVID-19 pandemic reversed that trend. By 2022–2023, usage rates had climbed back to 24.5%, where they remain today.

Deprescribing these medications when they no longer benefit or cause harm can improve safety and quality of life, especially with supportive care strategies. Person-centred care is a proven and safer alternative that addresses the root causes of responsive behaviors benefitting residents, care partners and care providers.

The AUA Approach

Learn more

Expand your participation — and your impact

This offering is part of Care Forward, a larger initiative that provides funding and learning supports to drive impact on four key priorities: expanding care access, supporting aging in place, advancing person-centred long-term care and strengthening the health workforce. Teams are encouraged to explore various Care Forward offerings to boost their skills and amplify their impact.

Awards and Key Dates

Long-term care teams across Canada are making meaningful strides to improve how antipsychotics are used in their homes, with a focus on safe, appropriate and person-centred approaches. The Sparking Change in the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics Awards Program recognizes and supports this work through funding, visibility and opportunities to learn from others. Whether you're just getting started or have measurable results to share, there's an award category for you.

Registration for this program is now closed, but you can still explore the AUA Approach to support your work.

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