The number of residential aged care places in Australia and the
ratio of places to people aged 70 years and over both increased in
2003-04, according to a report released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Residential Aged Care in Australia 2003-04:
A statistical overview shows there were 156,580 residential aged
care places at the end of the 2003-04 financial year, up from
151,181 places the previous year.
There were 84.2 residential places for each 1,000 people aged 70
years and over, compared to 82.8 places per 1,000 a year
earlier.
In addition to residential places, 29,063 Community Aged Care
Packages and 860 Extended Aged Care at Home places were also
operational at the end of 2003-04.
Taking into account contributions from Community Aged Care
Packages (15.6) and Extended Aged Care at Home (0.5), the total
aged care provision ratio was 100.3 places and packages per 1,000
people aged 70 and over.
This met the Australian Government's target for 2003-04 of 100
places and packages per 1,000.
Ann Peut, Head of the AIHW's Ageing and Aged Care Unit said that
the average size of residential care facilities was growing,
sometimes as a result of amalgamations as well as achieving
increased economies of scale.
'In 1998 20% of services had 61 places or more, but this rose to
28% in 2004. There were 2,932 mainstream residential aged care
services operating at 30 June 2004.'
'The figures also suggest that as soon as new places are offered
they are filled-with a 96% occupancy rate in mainstream
services.'
The average age of residents, and their dependency levels also
continued to rise.
'Around 51% of permanent residents were aged 85 and over at 30
June 2004, compared to 49% in 1999. This proportion has been moving
up slowly but consistently every year', Ms Peut said.
Over the same period the proportion of permanent residents
classified as 'high care' increased from 61% to 66%, while
residents classified as 'low care' fell from 39% to 34%.
'Available residential care places are thus being used by a
progressively more dependent group of people', Ms Peut said.
21 July 2005
Further information: Ann Peut, AIHW, tel 61 2
6244 1108, or mobile 0419 296 053
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of the Residential Aged Care in
Australia 2003-04.