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Restrictive practices in aged care settings include chemical, physical, mechanical, environmental restraint, and seclusion.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission also reported in their latest Sector Performance Report that ‘unreasonable use of force’ and ‘inappropriate use of restrictive practices’ have not decreased over the past 18 months since they released their initial findings in 2023.
Advocacy group Aged Care Justice (ACJ), which provides access to legal services, rights education, and lobbies for sector reform, says they have received an increase in complaints across a range of issues, including the use of these restraints.
“Legal education and legal support play an important role in empowering older Australians and their loved ones to understand their rights and confidently voice their concerns” ACJ Chair and Dentons Partner, Sue Williamson says.
As part of its commitment to reduce the misuse of these practices, ACJ released Fact Sheets on the misuse of chemical restraint in residential aged care in 2024 for Victoria.
Today Ms Williamson announced the second phase of the ACJ’s Restrictive Practices Project – factsheets and videos - on the appropriate use of physical and mechanical restraints in residential care in Victoria.
Read ‘When can a device be used to restrict the movement of an aged care resident?’ and ‘When can physical force be used to restrict the movement of an aged care resident?’ here.
The objective of the project is to help reduce serious incidences of restrictive practices which may have a significant physical and psychological impact on the resident. This project received funding through the Victorian Legal Services Board Grants Program.
“Physical restraint is inhumane outside specific situations, and it should be used with safeguards. We should be trying to understand why a Resident is behaving in a particular way, and find various means of support, says ACJ CEO Anna Willis.
“Preventing harm to aged care residents through the use of a mechanical device or physical force is sometimes necessary and appropriate, if its intention is to protect and is proportionate to the risk of harm”, says Willis.