A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW) looks at the links between in-home community
care services, short-term residential respite care and permanent
care in residential aged care homes.
The report, The ins and outs of residential respite
care, found that people who use both community care services
(such as personal care, help around the house and assistance with
transportation) and short-term residential respite care, remain in
the community longer than those who use residential respite care
only.
Around 65% of people who use both residential respite care and
community care services remain living at home for at least three
months after their respite care ends, compared with slightly under
55% of those who use only residential respite care.
Report author, Ms Rosemary Karmel said that nearly 30% of people
accessing respite care have more than one period of care in a
year.
'The report also showed that the majority of residential respite
care users (56%) access that care some time after they have started
using community care services.'
'The study reveals the integral role of respite care in helping
older people to continue to live at home - both those who already
use community care services and those who don't use this short term
assistance,' Ms Karmel said.
26 July 2006
Further information: Rosemary Karmel, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1200.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of The ins and outs of
residential respite care.