As Australia’s population ages, understanding access to specialist palliative care and aged care is increasingly vital. This report explores differences in the use of specialist palliative care for older people aged 65 years and over receiving aged care in the last year of life, comparing those living in residential aged care with those using home care and residential respite care. It reveals key patterns of care and disease trajectories, providing actionable insights to improve end-of-life care for older Australians.
- Cat. no: HWI 139
Key findings
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2 in 5 older people who died from predictable deaths received specialist palliative care in the last year of life
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Home care and respite care users were more likely than residential aged care users to receive specialist palliative care
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Specialist palliative care recipients were more likely to have unplanned hospital visit
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Residential aged care users receive first specialist palliative care service later than other aged care users