Protect human rights in aged care

Behavioural disturbance among people with dementia in nursing homes, reported on ABC’s Lateline program last week, highlights the need for the government to address legal and human rights issues for people living with dementia.

Alzheimer’s Australia is calling on the federal government to undertake an urgent review of the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and physical restraints which reflect poor quality care. Antipsychotic medications are associated with  serious risks and side effects including stroke and death.

Use of restraints impinge on people’s human and legal rights to freedom and safety.

Glenn Rees, Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive, said the Lateline report comes as no surprise, and has welcomed the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler’s, commitment to building the capacity of the aged care sector to provide higher quality dementia care.

“However, more action is needed to build on the Living Longer. Living Better aged care reforms,” Mr Rees said.

“The introduction last year of a dementia care supplement was the first reflection in residential care funding of the special needs of those with the most difficult behavioural symptoms of dementia.

“But we need to ensure that this precious funding is targeted to those with complex care needs, and that it results in better trained staff and better designed facilities. More funding may also be needed.”

Mr Rees added it was important to understand that although the majority of people with dementia experienced some form of behavioural and psychological symptoms at some stage of their illness, symptoms varyed greatly and only about 1% of people with dementia had symptoms of violence or aggression.

He also noted that while there are particular problems in residential care facilities, 60% of people with dementia live in the community.

“We know that aggressive symptoms among people with dementia are often a consequence of disorienting and distressing environments and/or poor quality care,” he said.

“We also know that well designed facilities with adequate numbers of staff who are trained to provide personalised care to people with dementia can avoid many of these problems and keep people safe.

There are reportedly 321,000 people with dementia in Australia, and many of these people are or will be living in nursing homes in the future.

According to Alzheimer’s Australia, behavioural disturbances such as agitation or aggression can often be addressed by doing simple things. For example, determining whether a person with dementia is crying out because they are in pain; or identifying if a person is hitting out at a carer because they are uncomfortable being showered by strangers or have an untreated urinary tract infection.

“People with dementia and their carers need to know that the government and the Opposition are committed to ensuring residential care provides safe places for older people and that they are properly funded and regulated to deliver high quality care,” Mr Rees said.

ABC’s Lateline program featured a report about severe and extreme behavioural disturbance among people with dementia in nursing homes on 11 April.

Although the majority of people with dementia may experience some form of behavioural and psychological symptoms at some stage of their illness, it is important to remember that the type of symptoms and their severity vary greatly between one person and the next. Furthermore, only about 1% of people with dementia reportedly experience symptoms of aggression or violence.