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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 supported 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) provided resources, coaching and financial award opportunities to 340 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, reinforcing the importance of this work.

Improvement with impact

Long-term care homes enrolled in Sparking Change in AUA saw meaningful change by rethinking how they responded 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.

Our impact in numbers

340

long-term care teams signed up to improve the appropriate use of antipsychotics in their homes

889

residents had their antipsychotic dose reduced or safely discontinued without being restarted

8

partners supported the program across Canada

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.

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.

The AUA Approach

Learn more

How we supported teams

Sparking Change recognized the important work already underway in long-term care homes across the country. The program supported participating teams in improving quality of life for residents, strengthening deprescribing practices and reducing medication-related risks through person-centred care.

Until February 2026, participating teams received flexible supports tailored to their goals, interests and capacity, including:

  • Financial awards ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per home

  • Tools and resources to support AUA practices

  • Dedicated coaching and peer learning opportunities

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

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 340 teams across 11 provinces and territories participated in Sparking Change in the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics.

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

These teams became part of a growing community of changemakers who shared ideas, learned together, and led meaningful improvements in care for residents across Canada.

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.

Advancing safe, person-centred long-term care

This offering was a part of Care Forward, a larger initiative that provides funding and learning supports to help move Care Forward in practice by expanding care access, supporting aging in place, advancing person-centred long-term care and strengthening the health workforce.

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