MIAMI: Research confirms the unnecessarily high usage of benzodiazepine and antipsychotic medications in the aged care sector, leading international experts to dub residential care facilities “modern mental institutions for the elderly”.
Promotion of alternate non-drug ways to manage behavioural problems, anxiety and sleep disturbance has been strongly endorsed. Despite these reports, little substantive change has occurred within the sector.
The care sector now faces the prospect of legislation to enforce change…