Use of sedative medication remains with GPs
A peak body for Australian aged care services has refuted a report which recommends aged care workers become more educated on the use of psychotropic medication when caring for someone with dementia, claiming a resident’s doctor – not providers – are “central decision makers” in this process.
Patrick Reid says there is a place for sedative medications in the treatment of dementia sufferers.
Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) claims the Alzheimer’s Australia’s report, released yesterday, on the use of restraints and psychotropic medication in residential aged care, largely ignores the key relationship between a resident and their doctor.
“The key relationship is between a doctor and their patient and the family or carer. In some instances the provider will also give information regarding daily activities and capacity,” Patrick Reid, LASA chief executive, says.
The report, titled The Use of Restraint and Psychotropic Medication in People with Dementia, exposes that up to 80% of people with dementia and nearly half of those in residential aged care facilities are receiving psychotropic medications that, in some cases, are inappropriately prescribed.
LASA believes there is a place for sedative medications in the treatment of dementia sufferers, but also contends that providers are not central decision makers in this process.
There is however a greater role for allied health practitioners and bodies such as the national Prescribing Service or Medicare in appropriate and timely use of sedative medications, Mr Reid says.
“LASA supports the quality use of medicines in conjunction with non-pharmacological approaches and has taken an active role in this regard and has a position on the advisory committee for the RedUSe program, developed by the University of Tasmania,” he adds.
The RedUse project is now in its second phase. The initial program successfully promoted the quality use of sedative medications in residential aged care, using audit, benchmarking, feedback, and a customised education program for staff with interdisciplinary review.
“With LASA’s assistance, the RedUse project estimates that more than 50,000 residents of Australian residential aged care facilities will have their antipsychotic and benzodiazepine medications reviewed, and a significant proportion will have their use of these agents reduced as a result of wide dissemination of the RedUse project.”
The RedUse project will also provide education on the quality use of sedative medication to a large number of nurses and GPs.
“LASA believes that continuous quality improvement is best dealt with through an open and positive approach. This requires all stakeholders to commit to open dialogue and joint statements wherever possible,” Mr Reid says.
He adds LASA is also supportive of proven diversional therapy for dementia sufferers as it promotes the work of the Arts Health Institute’s Play Up Program that has demonstrated improved outcomes for residents, in particular? that humour therapy can reduce agitation and should be considered as a psychosocial intervention before starting medication.
“For some residents the use of sedative medication will be the appropriate course of action and the benefits will outweigh the risk. In these circumstances, LASA does not believe the term ‘chemical restraint’ is warranted or appropriate.”
Read yesterday’s DPS News article on the Alzheimer’s Australia report titled, The Use of Restraint and Psychotropic Medication in People with Dementia.
