Resource Library

COVID-19 is a new infection that can be more serious for some older people. These resources explain how you can see your loved ones while keeping yourself and others safe from COVID-19, and include a poster, how-to guide, website banner, email footer and a social media tile. 

Click on the links to download the resources. 

To support the aged care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission is developing a range of new storyboards that are designed to illustrate key behaviours and priority issues.

Six steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care.

If you’re thinking of prescribing these medicines to manage the behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia, follow these 6 steps.

What are psychotropic medications? 

Psychotropic medications are ‘any drug capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behaviour'

The three main classes of psychotropics prescribed are antidepressants, anxiolytic/hypnotics (mostly benzodiazepines to manage anxiety and insomnia) and antipsychotics. Other psychotropic classes include anticonvulsants and stimulants. 

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is helping providers to understand issues and their responsibilities around minimising the use of chemical and physical restraint. This includes ensuring that providers are appropriately documenting each instance of use.

A practical guide developed by the Working Group on Influenza Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities on behalf of the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia. The purpose of the document is to assist residential care services and carers by providing best practice information for the prevention and management of influenza outbreaks in residential care facilities.

This self-assessment tool aims to help aged care service providers record how their use of chemical restraints is managed. It relates to consumers who are prescribed psychotropic medication(s) (particularly anti-psychotics and benzodiazepines), including for PRN (as needed) use.