According to an investigation by NPR, there are approximately 300,000 American nursing home residents are currently being given antipsychotic medication. These medications were developed for treatment of conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; however, nursing homes often give it to dementia patients as a way to sedate them. This exposes these residents to dangerous side effects such as heart attack risk, risk of infection, and death. Keep in mind that overmedicating a patient is a form of physical abuse.