Mortality in the first year of aged care services in Australia. (20th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Inacio, Maria C.; Lang, Catherine E.; Khadka, Jyoti; Watt, Amber M.; Crotty, Maria; Wesselingh, Steve; Whitehead, Craig
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 39:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: e537
• Page End: e544
• Publication Date: 2020-08-20
• Subjects: health services for the aged -- healthy ageing -- mortality -- respite care -- transitional care; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12833
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To examine the one‐year mortality of Australians entering aged care services compared with the general population. Methods: A population‐based analysis evaluating one‐year mortality among people who received first ever aged care services in 2013 compared with the general population was conducted. Results: In 2013, 3.3 million Australians were ≥ 65 years and 34 919 (1%) entered permanent residential care, 23 288 (0.7%) respite care, 20 265 (0.6%) commenced home care packages, and 15 387 (0.5%) transition care. Individuals receiving aged care services had higher mortality than the general population, with those entering permanent residential care (age and sex direct standardised mortality rate ratio = 10.1, 95% CI: 9.8‐10.5) having the greatest difference, followed by people accessing respite (7.2, 95% CI: 6.9‐7.6), transition (4.6, 95% CI: 4.4‐4.9) and home care (4.1, 95% CI: 3.9‐4.4). Significant variation by sex and age was observed. Conclusion: Our study has identified significant variations in mortality rates that highlight which cohorts entering aged care are the most vulnerable.