A study of 203,278 aged care residents and 118,999 recipients of Home Care Packages by the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) found home care recipients spent 7,745 days in hospital per 1,000 individuals, compared with 3,049 days for aged care residents.
Home care recipients "had more ED presentations, and unplanned and potentially preventable hospital visits," said Dr Stephanie Harrison, who led the research.
Home care recipients accounted for 43% of emergency department presentations, 40% of unplanned hospitalisations, and 12% of preventable hospitalisations, the study found.
By contrast, aged care residents accounts for 38% of emergency department presentations, 33% of unplanned hospitalisations and 8% of preventable hospitalisations.
In August 2013, the Australian Government introduced the Home Care Packages Program (replacing the existing Community Aged Care Program) to help eligible seniors access affordable care services at home – from assistance with everyday tasks to more complex or intensive support.
In September last year, The Weekly SOURCE reported there were nearly 250,000 older Australians with a Home Care Package, a 40,000 or 19% increase on the previous year.
You can read the research here.
