Resources

Despite recent Australian Government-commissioned strategies for fostering inclusion and equity of care, Dr Trish Cain and colleagues from Edith Cowan University explain why many Australian LGBTI older people continue to have negative expectations of aged care service quality.

In this blog, social anthropologist, Dr Angela Zhang, reflects on the question ‘can aged care residents experience a sense of wellbeing in the presence of disease and functional decline?'

Professor Sunil Bhar presents a webinar on the use of reminiscence therapy to enhance the wellbeing of older adults. Produced as part of the Ageing Webinar Series from Swinburne University of Technology. (1 h 22 m)

This free suicide prevention training program from Anglicare is for anyone who works with older people. It includes an online learning program and interactive workshop (3 hours duration). 

"This paper by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission presents key findings of a rapid review into contemporary evidence regarding interventions intended to improve the use of medications for older adults in the residential aged care setting."

This video by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission provides important information about sedative medications. It promotes quality and appropriate use of sedatives in residential aged care services in Australia, in particular antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. It also explains some of the impacts and side effects that should be considered when using these medications, and highlights the importance of informed consent. (6 min)

This 5th edition of the Silver Book by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners contains guidance on the use of psychoactive pharmaceuticals in the care of older patients.

A guide to using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), a tool for assessing the signs and symptoms of major depression in people living with dementia. To be completed by someone that has regular contact with the person.

An article from Australian Prescriber which describes the importance of assessing older people for an anticholinergic burden when taking drugs such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.

Dr Joanna Waloszek of the Elders AT Ease (ELATE) program explains why mental health outreach to residential aged care is so important and what one innovative program is doing to address the mental health concerns of this population group.