residential aged care
Depression, falls and antidepressants
Antidepressants are often first-line therapy for patients in residential aged care – but a leading consultant pharmacist says credentialed pharmacists could support other approaches Commonly, people living in residential aged …
On-site aged care pharmacists: salary, funding details emerging
The health department has provided an update on the aged care on-site pharmacist measure – still without a starting date The update was published on Monday, 18 March 2024, and …
Investigation needed on ACF antidepressants
A new study has found six out of ten Australian aged care residents are taking antidepressant medication The study, by the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA), based at South Australian …
Three-quarters of Aussie nursing home residents on regular painkillers: study
“Australia and Japan both have rapidly ageing populations but appear to have very different patterns of painkiller use,” says a pharmacist who has just examined how health professionals from both …
Palliative care call
Investment in a community pharmacy initiative would help ensure priority access to palliative medicines and personal care supplies after hours, one group says As part of its 2024-5 pre-Budget submission, …
Pharmacist suspended after he ‘inherited an inadequate system’
A pharmacist had no experience with residential aged care facilities, and received no training in supplying them, when he suddenly had to manage a 450-patient-per-week DAA contract – with insufficient …
Research Roundup
Debbie Rigby rounds up the latest in research news Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and atrial fibrillation A meta-analysis of seven trials showed that the efficacy of MRAs, as compared with placebo, …
Keeping it simple
Can hospital inpatients discharged to a residential aged care facility take their medicines in a simpler way? One study suggests that it does A group of South Australian researchers, led …
Aged care nurse swapped out pain meds for aspirin, Gastro Stop
When the family of an aged care facility resident complained about their increased pharmacy bill, the investigation led to a nurse being reprimanded The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has …
Managing changed behaviour in ACFs
How can pharmacists improve the use of antipsychotics and other medicines, particularly mirtazapine, in residential aged care? This is part two of a focus on the use of antipsychotics and …
Wrong chart used in ACF, followed by patient’s death
Unsafe medication practices at a residential aged care facility were “significant,” a coroner says in findings into an elderly woman’s death The 81-year-old Queensland woman had several health conditions, including …
Aged care medications: who pays?
There is a 60 day dispensing reality disconnect in residential aged care, says Gerard Stevens Politics might be the contest of ideas, but sometimes trenchant positions lead to tunnel vision …