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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— ...
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Grocery prices to rise by up to 4.5% in 2024, report predicts

 

The annual Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts that the average Canadian family of four will spend $700 more on food in 2024, reaching a total of $16,297.20. The report, which is produced by four Canadian universities, projects that bakery, meat and vegetables will see the highest price increases, up to 7 per cent.

The report attributes the rising food costs to several factors, including interest rates, energy costs, climate change, transportation expenses and geopolitical risk. However, it also notes that the rate of increase is slowing compared to the previous two years, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the food supply chain and caused inflation to spike.

Some essential items, such as dried pasta, sauces and canned goods, could become cheaper in 2024, as grocery chains compete for customers and benefit from lower commodity prices. The report also suggests that families spent less on groceries in 2023 than in 2022, possibly due to higher housing costs and debt levels.

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