Overview

In Australia, the aged care system offers a range of options to meet the different care needs of each individual. The desire of many older Australians to remain in their own homes as they age has led to an increasing focus on the provision of aged care services in community settings.

More reports and statistics on aged care can be found under Dementia, Older people and Palliative care services.

Latest findings

The most common reason for people leaving residential aged care was death Around 229,000 people began using aged care services in 2017–18 56% of people who left home care in 2017–18 went to residential care Just under a quarter of admissions into aged care in 2017–18 were to home care People who left permanent residential care in 2017–18 had stayed an average of 2 and a half years Two thirds of admissions into aged care in 2017–18 were to residential care

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Highlights

GEN Aged care data logowww.gen-agedcaredata.gov.auInformation and data on aged care in Australia
Nearly 3 in 5residential aged care facilities are managed by not-for-profit organisations
More than 80%of exits from permanent residential care were due to death, compared with 30% from home care
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople account for less than 1% of all people in permanent residential care and 4% of people in home care
49%of people in permanent residential aged care on 30 June 2018 had depression—it was the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition
$18.4 billionwas spent by governments on aged care in 2017–18—67% was for residential aged care
229,000 peopleentered residential care, home care, and transition care in 2017–18
Womenoutnumber men in aged care services 2 to 1 because, on average, they live longer and have higher care needs
People spendan average of 2 ½ years in permanent residential care, 2 years in Home care and 1 month in respite care