Report reveals link between cognitive decline and unreasonable force incidents in Aged Care
Report reveals link between cognitive decline and unreasonable force incidents in Aged Care
The majority of incidents involving the use of excessive force were found to occur between residents with significant cognitive decline, according to a recent report by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. More than half of the residents involved in these incidents were identified as having severe cognitive impairment.
The report presented findings from the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) of the Commission, specifically focusing on incidents categorised as "unreasonable use of force." These incidents accounted for nearly two-thirds of all notifications received by the Commission from residential aged care providers during the initial 15-month period of the scheme (April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022).
The release of the report follows the unfortunate death of Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old resident in aged care with dementia. Ms. Nowland was subjected to a taser by the New South Wales Police, resulting in her demise. This incident has raised significant concerns among experts and advocates in the aged care sector regarding the adequacy of training provided to both aged care workers and law enforcement personnel when handling challenging behaviours related to cognitive impairment.
The Commission acknowledges that managing such behaviours within residential aged care facilities can be difficult. However, it emphasises that many of these incidents are preventable, and providers must take further steps to train their staff in recognising and mitigating risks to residents under their care.
As the news of Clare Nowland's tragic death spread, it sent shockwaves through the aged care sector and ignited a nationwide conversation about the treatment of elderly residents with cognitive decline. The incident shed light on the dire need for improved training and protocols to address challenging behaviours associated with dementia and other cognitive impairments.