Enquiry into appropriate care for people with psycho-geriatric illness

The Minister  for Ageing, Justine Elliot, has asked the  Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing, Mary Murnane, to consult with experts and providers of psycho-geriatric care and report on Residential Aged Care and People with Psycho-Geriatric disorders by mid-May.

Currently more than 75% of people living in aged care homes have some form of dementia or some other form of cognitive impairment. A small minority can behave aggressively or inappropriately towards other residents or staff.

The Minister said there had been a number of recent incidents that raised the appropriate care for people with significant psycho-geriatric illness, including a death on 28 February at the South Australian state run facility Makk & McLeay Nursing Home in Adelaide which cares for residents with dementia and some with other ageing diseases and psychiatric disorders. . Another resident – who is 85 years old – has been charged with murder.