Stories by

Jordan Rau

Drugs are widely used to sedate dementia patients. Her sons wanted to keep her off them

Drugs are widely used to sedate dementia patients. Her sons wanted to keep her off them

Jordan Rau | Sep 30, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC
Potent sedating medications are often used on agitated people with dementia in long-term care facilities despite federal efforts to discourage them. A clash over whether to drug a Michigan woman illuminates the wrenching decisions families and guardians face.