The findings of a census of Day Therapy Centres and their care
recipients across Australia are presented in a new report released
today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Day Therapy Centre Census 2002, conducted by AIHW for
the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing over four
weeks in October/November 2002, presents data on the
characteristics of care recipients who received therapy during that
period, the types of care received and how it was delivered, as
well as information about the Day Therapy Centres themselves.
The Day Therapy Centre (DTC) Program is an Australian Government
funded program which subsidises a range of therapies primarily to
frail or disabled older people living in the community, and to
residents of Australian Government funded residential aged
care.
Services offered by the centres aim to assist care recipients -
90% of them aged over 65 - to either maintain or recover a level of
independence that will allow them to remain either in the community
or in low level residential care.
Ann Peut, Head of the Ageing and Aged Care Unit at AIHW, said
that care recipients could access a variety of services at the
centres and were referred to the DTCs for assistance with a range
of conditions.
'The results of the census show that people were most commonly
referred to the centres for treatment for musculoskeletal
conditions such as arthritis or back problems, skin conditions
including bedsores, ulcers, corns and calluses, diabetes related
problems, and lifestyle problems related to diet and eating habits
and lack of physical exercise.
'In terms of the types of care prescribed to treat these
problems, nearly half of care recipients, or 46%, received podiatry
services and roughly one-third, or 34%, were given
physiotherapy.
'The high percentage of care recipients receiving podiatry
therapy probably reflects the importance of proper foot care in
maintaining mobility, particularly for people with diabetes or
other peripheral circulation problems.'
The other main types of therapy offered by DTCs were diversional
therapy, occupational therapy, nursing services, hydrotherapy and
social work.
One-third of care recipients experienced substantial
difficulties with at least one of the areas of self care, mobility
and communication. A total of 7% were diagnosed with dementia and
nearly half of all clients received assistance for less than 12
months.
27 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 Day Therapy
Centre Census 2002 - February 2004.