The Federal Government has moved to enforce stronger regulations limiting the use of physical and chemical restraints on residents in aged care homes.

Key points: Aged care providers will need to meet a number of conditions to use restraints

Aged care providers will need to meet a number of conditions to use restraints Restraint must only be used as a last resort, Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says

Restraint must only be used as a last resort, Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says The changes will come into effect from the beginning of July

The changes were flagged after the ABC obtained video and photos showing dementia patients strapped to their chairs in a Sydney nursing home, in a practice the Australian Law Reform Commission said could constitute elder abuse.

A second case from Victoria highlighted the use of chemical restraints, with Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt calling both "totally unacceptable".

Under the new regulations, aged care providers must satisfy a number of conditions before restraints can be used, including having assessments done by an approved health or medical practitioner.

They will also ensure homes have informed consent from the resident or their representative before using physical restraint, unless it is "necessary in an emergency".

Aged care homes will additionally need to document alternative options to restraint if the method is used, and regular monitoring will be carried out.

'Top priority', Minister says

Mr Wyatt said the Government had moved quickly on the new laws, and predicted they would help create safer environments for seniors.

"We will not tolerate the use of physical and chemical restraints. Restraint must only be used as a last resort," he said.

"This supports our broader reform agenda to ensure aged care is delivered to a high quality at all times and in all places.

"Protecting our senior Australians, ensuring their safety, health, well-being and quality of life when they are receiving aged care, is a top priority.

"Our quality and safety reforms, alongside the work of the Royal Commission [into Australia's aged care system], will ensure senior Australians will be protected and treated with the respect and dignity they deserve."

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says restraint must only be used as a last resort. ( ABC News: Mitchell Woolnough )

The changes will come into effect from July 1.

Dementia patients strapped to chairs

Mr Wyatt foreshadowed the new regulations in January, after the ABC's 7.30 aired images of dementia patients being strapped to chairs.

Records show 72-year-old Terry Reeves was frequently strapped to a chair at a nursing home in Sydney's west, and on one day was restrained for a total of 14 hours.

A restraint authorisation form was issued for Terry Reeves by Garden View Nursing Home. ( Supplied )

His daughter believes her father was also chemically restrained with powerful antipsychotics on a regular basis without the family's knowledge or consent.

The home said it was investigating the case and was "taking measures to more effectively work towards a restraint-free environment".

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In a separate case, 84-year-old Victorian woman Margaret Barton was given what a coroner described as "excessive" doses of the sedative Oxazepam, causing her to fall and contributing to her death after just nine weeks in care.

Mr Wyatt described the incidents at the time as deeply disturbing and totally unacceptable.

Dementia Australia added that restraints were being overused because 70 per cent of the aged care workforce was not required to have any training in dementia.

But doctors have previously said understaffing in aged care homes was the real problem, which would not be fixed by new laws around the use of restraints and medication.

"Ideally we would prefer not to use any medications at all, but if there is no staff there, the patients are at risk and they need to be taken care of," Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Harry Nespolon said earlier this year.