Clients accessing services in 2 consecutive years
Of the 86,400 older clients accessing SHS services between 2013–14 and 2017–18, just over 14,100 (16%) received services in 2 consecutive years (Figure 13). These clients received a median of 116 days of support and an average of 35 nights of accommodation.
More females (54%) than males (46%) accessed services in 2 consecutive years, though the service intensity for males was higher. Males received a median of 121 days of support and an average of 43 nights of accommodation compared with females who received 111 days of support and 29 nights of accommodation.
Figures for this client group can be found in the section 'All clients between 2013–14 to 2017–18'.
Age profile
Of older SHS clients receiving services in 2 consecutive years between 2013–14 and 2017–18, most were aged 55–64 (63%); a further 26% were aged 65–74 and 11% were aged 75 and over.
Clients aged 75 years and over received a higher average number of nights of accommodation (40 nights) than the other age groups; 30 nights for those aged 65–74 and 36 nights for those aged 55–64.
State/territory
Just under half (46%) of older SHS clients who accessed services in 2 consecutive years between 2013–14 and 2017–18 did so in Victoria, followed by New South Wales (23%) and Queensland (13%) (Figure 14). Of older SHS clients receiving services in 2 consecutive years:
- Clients accessing services in the Australian Capital Territory received the highest median number of days of support per client (251 days) followed by the Northern Territory (237).
- Clients in the Northern Territory had the highest average number of nights of accommodation (87 nights per client) compared with South Australia which had the lowest (19).
Vulnerability
Of the 14,100 older clients who accessed services in 2 consecutive years, 58% reported experiencing one or more vulnerabilities (mental health issues, family and domestic violence and/or problematic drug/alcohol use) and 42% did not report any (Figure 15). Almost 1 in 4 (23%) older clients reported mental health issues only and 14% reported family and domestic violence only. A smaller proportion (2%) of clients ever reported experiencing all 3 vulnerabilities.
Of this client group, there were differences for males and females, including:
- 51% of males and 34% of females reported experiencing no vulnerabilities.
- 1 in 4 (24%) female clients reported family and domestic violence only compared with 2% of males.
- Males (27%) were more likely to report mental health issues only than females (20%) (Supplementary table 13).
Of older SHS clients receiving services in 2 consecutive years between 2013–14 and 2017–18:
- Clients reporting all 3 vulnerabilities reported the highest average number of support periods (3.9 per client), followed by those reporting both mental health issues and problematic drug and alcohol use (3.5). By way of comparison, those not reporting vulnerabilities had an average of 2.1 support periods.
- Clients reporting both mental health and drug/alcohol issues had a comparatively high average number of nights of accommodation (69 nights).
Disability
Of the 6,500 total older clients who reported that they always or sometimes needed assistance with self-care, mobility and communication, around 1 in 4 (23%) received services in 2 consecutive years between 2013–14 and 2017–18 (Figure 16). Females made up just over half (52%) of these clients who reported that they always or sometimes needed assistance, with males representing 48%.
Older female SHS clients with disability accessing services in 2 consecutive years had a higher intensity of service use than males. Females received a median of 156 days of support compared with males who received 126 days per client. This is in contrast to the overall pattern of males having greater service use intensity.