KCET's Award-Winning Weekly Series 'SOCAL CONNECTED' Examines the Overuse of Antipsychotic Drugs as 'Chemical Restraints' on the Elderly in Nursing Homes

KCET's

Award-Winning Weekly Series 'SOCAL CONNECTED' Examines the Overuse of Antipsychotic

Drugs as 

'Chemical Restraints' on the 

Elderly

in Nursing Homes

BURBANK, CA - Sept. 25, 2014 -

SOCAL

CONNECTED

, KCET's Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning series looks at the unauthorized

and illegal use of powerful antipsychotic drugs on

some elderly residents in nursing homes.

SOCAL

CONNECTED's

anchor Val Zavala tells the story of Aleah Davis, who says she

was given the antipsychotic Haldol without her consent to keep her docile. Davis,

recovering from a fall at Country Villa nursing home in Seal Beach, says she was

administered drugs causing confusion and hallucinations. Her story lends

insight into the larger problem in nursing homes of the misuse of

antipsychotics as a "chemical restraint" for the elderly. Though the FDA has

warned of an increased risk of death with the use of these drugs on dementia

patients, studies show that more than 16 percent of all residents in California

nursing homes receive antipsychotics. The story will air on Wednesday, October

1, 2014. 

This week's SOCAL CONNECTED also features:

Volunteer Cops - They look the same,

dress the same, get the same training and carry the same badge, but they're not

full-time cops. And they're not even paid. They are volunteers with the Los

Angeles Police Department's Reserve Corps. Reporter Brian Rooney walks the beat

one night in downtown L.A. to see just what these volunteer officers encounter.

So You Think You Can Herd - City life for a

border collie or a sheepdog can be downright stifling, especially when their

instincts are to herd sheep or cattle. Reporter Nick Hardcastle, however,

discovered a sheepherding heaven in the Antelope Valley in Acton that is perfect

for "Maggie". How will this pampered Hollywood pooch react when she sees sheep

in an arena for the first time?

Brown is the New

Green

- The drought has made dried out lawns not only

necessary, but some would say politically correct. Now there's a way to save

water and have a green lawn at the same time. Reporter Conor Knighton goes

along with some lawn painters to see how this growing business works. This

segment is based on a story from

KCET.org's Home & Garden section.

Broadcast

Premiere Date

:  Wednesday, October 1 at 8 p.m.

Repeated: Friday, October 3 at 8 p.m.

and Sunday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m.

SOCAL CONNECTED is anchored by 16-time

Emmy®-Award winner, Val Zavala. Contributors include science journalist Cara Santa Maria, reporters Derrick

Shore, Jennifer Sabih, Conor Knighton, documentary filmmaker Nic Cha Kim and writer

Nick Hardcastle.

The

television broadcast executive producer for SOCAL CONNECTED is Val

Zavala; digital executive producer is Zach Behrens; and Linda Burns is senior

producer.

ABOUT SOCAL CONNECTED

SOCAL CONNECTED, winner of a Peabody®

and two duPont Awards, 23 Emmy® Awards, 24 Golden Mikes, 48 LA Press Club

Awards, two Gracie Awards, and four regional and one national Edward R. Murrow

Awards, including Best News Documentary and

Los

Angeles Magazine

's "Best New Local TV Program" of 2009, airs

exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to leave

comments, please visit www.socalconnected.org. SOCAL CONNECTED is made possible

through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation, Chapman University and

the MaddocksBrown Foundation.

ABOUT KCET

On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in

the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California.

KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the

finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 50-year

history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news

and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions,

its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and

community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported

community institution. For additional information about KCET productions,

web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit

kcet.org. KCET is a service of KCETLink.

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