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Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet

This fact sheet is informed by the Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard (CCS), developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The CCS describes the safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for people with cognitive disability or impairment, in a way that upholds their rights, dignity, health and quality of life. The CCS recognises that quality care should be provided, regardless of the service setting.

This fact sheet is relevant to all people with cognitive impairment who are: 

  • Living independently and may have visiting support workers or healthcare workers
  • Living with family and may have visiting support workers or health care workers
  • Living in residential aged care homes.

This fact sheet has the dual aims of helping aged care providers to:

  • Understand their role in mitigating the risks of using psychotropic medicines to manage behaviour in older people with cognitive disability or impairment
  • Meet their obligations to provide safe, coordinated, effective and evidence-based clinical care, as described in the Aged Care Quality Standards (ACQS). 

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Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet

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Publication year
2025
Resource type
Fact sheet or brochure
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