New funding for research into people with psychogeriatric conditions in aged care homes
The Australian Government is providing $2 million in research funding, to assist in the study of the care and treatment of people with psychogeriatric conditions in aged care homes.
Psycho-geriatrics include older people who have either an age-related illness or life long mental health problems.
It also includes people who have diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s, which tend to affect predominantly those who are old.
In April, the Federal Government asked the Department of Health and Ageing to prepare a national report into psychogeriatric care by Deputy Secretary, Ms Mary Murnane. It is expected to be released shortly and the states will be asked to respond.
Announcing the funding, the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, said that at present, three out of every four people living in aged care homes had some form of dementia or other psychiatric condition.
Although considerable funding has been allocated to research into dementia, including $17.4 million allocated by the Government to Dementia Research Grants and $7.2 million for Dementia Collaborative Research Centres, funding has not previously specifically targeted people with more severe psychogeriatric conditions.
This work is being undertaken collaboratively between the Department of Health and Ageing and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) The NHMRC will be allocating additional funds to support this research.
“The care and treatment of people with psychogeriatric disorders, particularly those with more severe conditions, in aged care homes is a complex issue that needs to be carefully looked at, and dealt with in a sensitive manner.
“A minority of people who live in aged care homes can behave aggressively or inappropriately towards other residents or staff, and place themselves and others at risk.
“This research funding will focus on developing medication and behaviour-management interventions to help ensure that people with psycho-geriatric disorders receive the treatment they need and deserve,” Mrs Elliot said.
