New psychotropic guidelines in aged care launched to combat over-prescription – Podcast

A new guideline has been released this week to help inform the aged care sector about the appropriate use of psychotropic treatment.

Research has shown that high rates of older people with dementia receive psychotropic medication when entering residential aged care, yet significant outcomes are often unlikely.

It is estimated that over 20 per cent had received antipsychotics or benzodiazepines in residential aged care, with just under half of the older people being prescribed antidepressants.

In an effort to reduce inappropriate prescriptions and polypharmacy, the Monash University's Centre for Medicine Use and Safety (CMUS) instigated a two-year project to create the guidelines.

"In residential aged care, there's both high and variable rates of psychotropic medication use," said CMUS director professor Simon Bell, "and this has been a concern for both clinicians and consumers".

"People often resort to prescribing psychotropic medication, while it's not always the preferred treatment."

Professor Simon Bell spoke with Aged Care Insite about the release of the comprehensive guideline and the need for individualised care.