Medicine management in aged care
A study in the Medical Journal of Australia released this week looks at the medication records of nursing home residents in five states, in particular the use of antipsychotic medication and tranquilisers.
A study in the Medical Journal of Australia released this week looks at the medication records of nursing home residents in five states, in particular the use of antipsychotic medication and tranquilisers.
“Medical practitioners are responsible for prescribing the medication regime for residents of aged care facilities, they are not arbitrarily distributed by nurses and care staff at whim,” Professor John Kelly, Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) chief executive, said.
“There is a significant growth in the number of people going into aged care with dementia. Many nursing homes are able to care for these residents very well but their care needs are complex,” he added.
ACSA members are collaborating with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) School of Pharmacy’s Unit for Medication Outcomes, Research and Education (UMORE) which is rolling out its ‘Reducing use of sedatives’ program, known as RedUSe, to 150 nursing homes across Australia.
“ACSA also would argue that residential aged care is chronically underfunded. This is not about any particular government, but what is needed is a debate about what the community is prepared to pay for aged care,” Professor Kelly said.
“It is not until we have an independent cost of care study that we will be able to determine how much it costs to deliver quality aged care services and then have them funded appropriately.
“It is in the best interests of the clients of aged care and their families, the providers of aged care and their staff for proper funding so that the aged care sector can cope with the changing demographics and increased numbers of people living with dementia.
“The community at large must consider what we as citizens are prepared to pay for through our own contributions and through taxes to provide a quality, wellstaffed aged care sector.”
