Skip to main content

Featured

A Silent Trend in Canadian Long‑Term Care: Antipsychotic Use Without Diagnosis

  A recent report has revealed a troubling pattern in long‑term care (LTC) homes across Canada: one in four residents is being given antipsychotic medication despite having no diagnosis of psychosis . These drugs—intended to treat conditions involving delusions or hallucinations—are often being used instead to manage behavioural symptoms such as aggression or agitation, particularly among residents with dementia.  This trend has been growing in recent years. National data shows that potentially inappropriate antipsychotic use in LTC reached more than 24% in 2023–2024 , continuing an upward trajectory that began before the COVID‑19 pandemic. Rates vary widely across the country, with some jurisdictions approaching 35%. The pandemic intensified staffing shortages and disrupted person‑centred care practices, making it harder for facilities to rely on non‑pharmacological approaches.  Canada’s rate of inappropriate antipsychotic use is also high by international standards— ...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

Cyprus Leaders Discuss Opening New Crossing Points Along 1974 Ceasefire Line


 Leaders of war-divided Cyprus said on Monday they supported opening further crossing points along the 1974 ceasefire line splitting the island to meet popular demand, and would work with the United Nations towards that objective. President Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar discussed the modalities of new checkpoints at a rare meeting hosted by the United Nations in the divided capital Nicosia. 

Despite mutual support for further openings, the leaders did not announce any immediate measures to ease movement across the truce line, indicating continued disagreements. The leaders believe that the opening of new crossing points is critical to promote people-to-people contacts, strengthen economic ties, and build trust. 

Another meeting is scheduled in the coming days to continue discussions. The push for additional checkpoints follows months of negotiations focused on where and how many checkpoints should open in addition to the nine crossings used by thousands daily along a 180-km (116-mile) ceasefire line. 

It is estimated that more than a million people use the checkpoints to cross each year either for employment, education, or personal reasons. The first pedestrian crossing was opened in April 2003 after almost three decades of isolation. 

Greek Cypriots say they do not object to opening one checkpoint advocated by Turkish Cypriots in the east of Nicosia, the island's ethnically-split capital. They say that in a spirit of reciprocity, Turkish Cypriots should agree to opening a checkpoint which Greek Cypriots want. 

The leaders' joint statement emphasized the importance of opening new crossing points to promote people-to-people contacts, strengthen economic ties, and build trust. 




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment