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STAFF WARNING OVER CARE SEDATIVE - 30 March 2006

People living with dementia in care homes are given too many sedatives because staff are inadequately trained, medical experts have warned.

Researchers found that better staff training led to less reliance on sedatives to calm people with dementia showing disruptive behaviour.

Twelve specialist nursing homes in London, Newcastle and Oxford were studied as part of the test, published in the British Medical Journal.

In homes where training and support was given to staff, the proportion of residents taking sedatives (23%) was significantly lower than in the other homes (42.1%).

The Alzheimer's Society, which supported the study, said often unlicensed anti-psychotics can cause death or strokes.

Chief executive, Neil Hunt, said 75% of people in care homes have dementia, but only 10% of staff have adequate dementia-care training.

"An urgent review of statutory training requirements is needed to avoid putting residents at risk. Disruptive or challenging behaviour is distressing for staff, people with dementia and their families," he added.

"However these unlicensed treatments are often not suitable for them and can have adverse effects. This research shows that training staff makes a real difference."

Professor Clive Ballard, director of research and co-author of the study, added: "People with dementia are often prescribed anti-psychotic drugs without knowing what causes their behaviour.

"This is an important study as it shows that educating and training staff increases their understanding of patients' needs, decreasing the need to prescribe drugs."