Abstract
Objectives
To examine the (1) cohort of individuals living at home with Home Care Packages (HCPs)
in 2016, (2) their access to other aged care services after HCP commencement, and
(3) their hospital and ambulance service utilization.
Design
A cross-sectional study was conducted using integrated aged care and health care data
contained within the National Historical Cohort of the Registry of Senior Australians.
Setting and Participants
This study included people who accessed HCP between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.
Methods
The access to permanent residential aged care, transition care, respite care, hospital
and ambulance services among Australian HCP recipients ≥65 years old in 2016 was evaluated.
Descriptive statistics were employed.
Results
In 2016, 84,681 individuals received HCPs, of which 68.4% (n = 57,942) accessed HCP
levels 1‒2, 26.0% (n = 22,057) accessed HCP levels 3‒4, and 5.5% (n = 4682) accessed
both care levels within the year. Of the individuals receiving HCP, 34.0% (n = 27,787)
started services that year and 16.7% (n = 14,117) moved to permanent residential aged
care, 18.4% (n = 15,592) used respite care and 5.8% (n = 4937) used transition care
that year. Emergency department (ED) presentations [43.6%, 95% confidence interval
(CI) 43.3‒44.0] were the most common hospital encounters, followed by inpatient hospitalizations
for any reason (43.3%, 95% CI 42.9‒43.7), and unplanned hospitalizations (38%, 95%
CI 37.6‒38.3). Forty-four percent (44.5%, 95% CI 43.9‒45.0) of individuals utilized
ambulance services. ED presentations, hospitalization for any reason, and unplanned
hospitalizations were more common in individuals receiving HCP levels 3‒4 compared
with those accessing HCP levels 1‒2.
Conclusions and Implications
HCP recipients in Australia have frequent hospitalizations, including ED presentations.
In addition, almost 1 in 5 access respite care and 16.7% transition to permanent residential
care each year. As the population accessing HCP is increasing, adequate support for
these individuals to live well at home and avoid health events that lead to hospitalizations
are necessary.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 26, 2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
This work was supported by Hospital Research Foundation Mid-Career Fellowship [MCI], National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant [119378 to MCI].
Dr Anna Barker is Executive Director (Research and Innovation) of Silverchain, which is a leading provider of complete in-home care services in Australia including Home Care Packages and Commonwealth Home Support Program. Dr Keith Evans is a member of the Risk Management Committee and a Strategic Advisor to aged care provider named Life Care Inc. All other authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
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