The number of Community Care Packages for older Australians has
risen 37% in one year, according to a report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The Commonwealth-funded Community Care Package program was
established in 1992 to help frail older Australians with complex
care needs to continue living in their own homes.
Community Care Packages in Australia 1998-99: a statistical
overview shows that 13,753 packages were delivered in 1998-99,
an increase of 3,707 on the previous year.
The ratio of packages to people aged 70 and over also increased,
from 6.3 per 1,000 to 8.4 over the same period.
The report shows rapid growth in the program over its first
seven years, from an initial 235 packages in 1992. Head of the
AIHW's Aged Care Unit, Dr Diane Gibson, said this growth is
expected to continue.
The vast majority of care package recipients (87%) were aged 70
years or more; 58% were aged 80 and over.
About 70% of clients were homeowners, 17% lived in public rental
housing, and the remaining 13% in a private rental property or
board/lodging.
Other findings in Community Care Packages in Australia
1998-99 include:
- There were 594 outlets providing community care packages at 30
June 1999, with 266 of these being in rural and remote areas.
- 10,033 clients were admitted to the program between 1 July 1998
and 30 June 1999. During the same period 6,288 clients left the
program, the main reasons being to go to a residential aged care
facility (44%) or death (21%).
- About 1 in 3 clients who left the program in 1998-99 received
care for at least one year prior to leaving.
14 July 2000
Further information: Dr Diane Gibson, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1190.
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.