AMA Praises New Resource For Treating Dementia

AMA (NSW) says Alzheimer’s Australia is bringing attention to an important issue in aged care with its new resource for treating dementia.
AMA (NSW) President, Dr Saxon Smith, praises Alzheimer’s Australia’s new resource on antipsychotic medication. “Antipsychotic medication can be an appropriate treatment for some conditions but in some cases, especially in aged care, other options may provide better outcomes for the patient.
“The guidelines Alzheimer’s Australia has developed for use of antipsychotics for dementia patients will be a valuable resource for doctors and other healthcare professionals. “And, above all, patient welfare will be improved,” Dr Smith says.
More information on the online resource Alzheimer’s Australia has produced can be found here.
Additionally, the Alzheimer’s Australia video featuring advice from Dr Henry Brodaty, who is the Director of the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, can be viewed here.
“I’m glad Alzheimer’s Australia is bringing attention to this important issue," Dr Smith said. “Highlighting ways to reduce the level at which antipsychotic medications are prescribed in aged care is very helpful.
“Especially when some of the side-effects have been linked to increased mortality,” Dr Smith says. “Families, doctors, healthcare staff, carers and pharmacists are all involved in providing care for dementia patients and these guidelines will be useful for everyone. “They promote monitoring and review of antipsychotic prescriptions and looking for other ways of managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
“With its guidelines, Alzheimer’s Australia is helping to identify situations where there may be a more useful alternative to antipsychotic medication,” Dr Smith says