Almost two-thirds of Australian aged-care facility residents are given psychiatric drugs linked to falls, seizures, strokes and deaths, according to a University of Tasmania study.
Widespread inappropriate use of sedating antipsychotics and benzodiazepines were reported, as well as the common administration of chemical restraints to sedate dementia patients.
Royal Australian College of GPs President Bastian Seidel told the Australian aged-care homes can longer be assumed to be safe places.