The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has
reported on the first census of the Commonwealth's new Extended
Aged Care at Home (EACH) program. The program provides packages of
care equivalent to high-level residential care, including nursing
and personal care, to older people in their own homes.
The Extended Aged Care at Home Census 2002, conducted
for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing,
presents data collected during one week in May 2002.
Since the time of the census, when 290 EACH packages were
approved, the program has seen rapid expansion, with over 900
approved packages available by the end of 2003.
Ann Peut, Head of the Ageing and Aged Care Unit at AIHW, said
that this growth was in keeping with the trend toward providing an
increasing array of care to older people in their own homes.
'Other care packages are available to older Australians, such as
Community Aged Care Packages (CACP)' says Ann Peut, 'but the
difference lies in the level of care offered and the additional
access to nursing care and allied health services in the home'.
While the proportion of care recipients over 85 years of age is
similar to CACP, the census highlights the higher level of care
EACH recipients receive.
'The average hours of service received per week is about 17,
with the predominant service provided being personal care (9
hours). Around 75% of recipients receive care from registered
nurses. Most of this nursing care would have been either organised
or funded by the EACH Program.
'Almost one in three people receiving care through the program
in 2002 had been diagnosed with dementia. Although the hours of
care provided were similar for clients both with and without
dementia, 43% of those with dementia required assistance in all 11
core activities, such as eating, dressing, bathing and
communicating, compared with 18% of those without dementia.'
A profile of the recipients drawn from the census showed that
64% were female and one-third were aged 85 years or older. A high
proportion (81%) lived in privately owned residences, with 76%
living with a family member.
Recipients came from 35 different countries, with 61% specifying
Australia as their place of birth.
18 February 2004
Further information: Ann Peut, AIHW, tel. 02
6244 1108, or 0407 915 851 (mobile)
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for availability of Extended Aged
Care at Home Census 2002 - February 2004.