Killing Seniors by Court Imposed Guardianship Fraud.

THE TRAGEDY OF GUARDIANSHIP FRAUD
What can happen when Court ordered Guardianship goes WRONG

Psychotropic Drugs: Used to restrain up to 80% of dementia patients in aged care facilities.

Updated Wed 26 Mar 2014, 6:10pm AEDT

A new study produced by Alzheimer's Australia suggests up to 80 per cent of dementia patients in aged care facilities are being treated with psychotropic drugs.

The report, to be released today, suggests only one in five dementia patients receive any benefit from taking such medication.

Alzheimer's Australia says the use of drugs in nursing homes is excessive and it has called for reform of the sector.

Lateline previously revealed that up to 6,000 elderly Australians could be dying prematurely each year because of the misuse of psychotropic drugs in aged care facilities.

Psychotropic drugs are psychiatric medicines that alter chemical levels in the brain, affecting mood and behaviour.

Anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications and ADHA drugs are some examples.

Alzheimer's Australia chief executive Glenn Rees says about 140,000 nursing home residents are being sedated and restrained with psychotropic drugs.

"For people with dementia in residential care - and remember that people with dementia account for 50 per cent of residents - about 80 per cent will be on restraint at some time or other," he said.

"Restraint can be necessary and as an organisation we accept that physical restraint in some circumstances and medical restraint are necessary, but we think it should be the last resort, not the first resort."

But the aged care industry argues it has been following the advice of medical professionals.

"It's not the aged care facility that does the diagnosis nor prescribes the medication," said Patrick Reid, the chief executive of Leading Age Services Australia.

"They're acting on the ... information from the clinical pathway, from a doctor."

But Mr Rees says there are alternatives to medication.

"There are a number of things that can be done to reduce restraint," he said.

"One is to adapt the physical environment so it's less confusing and less noisy. Another is to give a person activities and a sense of purpose in life, whether it's rehabilitation, social activities, physical recreation.

"Another is to adopt person-centred care approaches so that the care staff can relate better to the individual and know their personal histories."

Mr Reid says the industry is open to change.

"Any changes to environment, whether it be the built environment, the culture and other things, are important," he said.

"Certainly many of the refurbishments we are seeing in aged care, about 60 per cent of new buildings are around improving that environment. So I think it is a positive.

"My members do embrace those approaches and are trying very hard to make sure everyone is treated as well as they can be, and with their dignity and respect."

A Senate committee has been hearing evidence about the overuse of psychotropic drugs in aged care facilities.

Page Summary

Psychotropic drugs are also the drug of choice in guardianship fraud cases. Unfortunately, even seniors who are mentally healthy have been drugged by associates and family and declared a "vulnerable adult" to obtain their assets. These men and women are kept isolated and medicated while their assets are seized. They usually die an untimely horrible death of fear and loneliness.