Another 20% are taking antipsychotic medication with over 50% of these residents are not staying on this medication for too long, according to a new report released this week by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
The report, led by Professor Libby Roughead from the University of South Australia’s Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, also found one in five unplanned hospital admissions for people living in aged care facilities was the result of taking medicines generally thought to be potentially inappropriate for older people.
This is particularly concerning when you consider the emotional and physical stress of being taken to the emergency department for aged care residents.
Of course, medicine plays an essential role in residential care.
The fact is most people living in our aged care homes have a range of chronic conditions that require medication to manage them.
The problem is when these medications are not reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are keeping the person well.
Under the current system, residents’ medicines must be reviewed a minimum of every two years.
But as the research shows, over 95% of the people in the study had at least one problem with their medication when it was reviewed, while most had three problems.
There is some good news, however.
Medication safety was one of three areas identified in the Royal Commission’s Interim Report released last October for immediate attention by the Federal Government.
In November, Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged $25.5 million to improve medication management programs in residential care and at home to tackle the issue.
The Government has also announced new restrictions and education for doctors on the use of medication as a chemical restraint and is currently negotiating a new agreement with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia which could see more frequent medication reviews become mandatory.
Some providers are also hiring in-house pharmacists to cut down on the risk of falls and complications from taking multiple medications.
All important steps to ensure our Mums and Dads stay safe while receiving the support that they need.
A reminder too – if you do have concerns about the medications that your loved one is taking, ask to speak to the nurse or manager. If you want to take the issue further, you can contact the independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission here or on 1800 951 822.
