As Australia’s population ages, the relationship between the aged care system and the healthcare system is becoming increasingly important. Many older Australians receiving aged care support live with chronic illnesses, mobility limitations, cognitive impairment, or multiple complex health conditions that require ongoing monitoring and treatment.
Recent research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has highlighted the significant interaction between aged care services and hospitals. The findings show that older Australians receiving aged care are more likely to visit emergency departments and be admitted to hospital than seniors who are not using aged care services.
Understanding these trends can help families, carers, healthcare professionals, and aged care providers better support older Australians and potentially reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
Understanding the Connection Between Aged Care and Healthcare
Aged care and healthcare are closely linked.
While aged care services primarily focus on helping older Australians maintain their independence, wellbeing, and daily functioning, many individuals receiving aged care also require regular medical treatment and ongoing health management.
Aged care services may assist with:
- Personal care
- Domestic support
- Medication assistance
- Social support
- Mobility assistance
- Care coordination
Healthcare services may involve:
- General practitioners (GPs)
- Specialists
- Hospitals
- Emergency departments
- Allied health professionals
- Community health services
For many older Australians, both systems operate simultaneously and play an important role in supporting their overall wellbeing.
What Did the Recent AIHW Research Find?
According to recent AIHW findings, hospitalisation rates among aged care recipients remain significantly higher than among older Australians who do not receive aged care services.
The data revealed that:
- 52% of Home Care recipients were hospitalised at least once during 2023–24.
- 43% of permanent residential aged care residents were hospitalised during the same period.
- Almost all aged care recipients had contact with a GP.
- Emergency department presentations were more common among aged care recipients than among seniors not using aged care services.
These figures demonstrate the complex health needs of many people receiving aged care support.
Why Are Home Care Recipients More Likely to Be Hospitalised?
Some people may be surprised to learn that hospitalisation rates were higher among Home Care recipients than among residential aged care residents.
Several factors may contribute to this trend.
Living Independently at Home
Many Home Care recipients continue to live independently in the community.
Although they receive support services, they may not have immediate access to on-site healthcare staff available in residential aged care settings.
When health issues arise, hospital treatment may become necessary.
Managing Multiple Health Conditions
Many Home Care recipients live with:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Respiratory conditions
- Arthritis
- Kidney disease
- Dementia
Managing multiple chronic illnesses can increase the risk of health complications requiring emergency or hospital care.
Delayed Recognition of Health Changes
When individuals live alone or have limited daily supervision, early signs of illness may sometimes go unnoticed.
Prompt identification and intervention can often prevent health conditions from becoming more serious.
Why Are Residential Aged Care Residents Still Frequently Hospitalised?
Although residential aged care residents had lower hospitalisation rates than Home Care recipients, the rates remain substantial.
This reflects the fact that many residents have highly complex health needs.
Residential aged care residents are more likely to experience:
- Advanced frailty
- Significant mobility limitations
- Cognitive impairment
- Dementia
- Multiple chronic conditions
- Increased vulnerability to infections
Even with access to nursing support and structured care environments, some medical situations require hospital treatment.
The Important Role of General Practitioners
The research also showed that nearly all aged care recipients accessed GP services.
This finding highlights the critical role general practitioners play in supporting older Australians.
GPs help manage:
Chronic Disease Management
Regular reviews help monitor conditions before complications develop.
Medication Reviews
Older Australians often take multiple medications.
Routine reviews can reduce medication-related risks and improve treatment outcomes.
Preventive Care
Preventive health measures can help identify issues early and reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation.
Care Coordination
GPs often act as a central point of communication between hospitals, specialists, allied health providers, families, and aged care services.
Emergency Department Presentations Remain High
One of the most significant findings from the research is the high number of emergency department presentations among aged care recipients.
Emergency presentations may occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Falls
- Infections
- Breathing difficulties
- Medication complications
- Dehydration
- Heart-related conditions
- Sudden deterioration in health
Older Australians often have less physiological reserve than younger people, meaning relatively minor illnesses can sometimes escalate quickly.
This increases the importance of early intervention and preventative care.
Falls Continue to Be a Major Contributor
Falls remain one of the leading causes of emergency department presentations and hospital admissions among older Australians.
Risk factors include:
- Reduced balance
- Muscle weakness
- Vision impairment
- Medication side effects
- Environmental hazards
- Cognitive impairment
Many falls can be prevented through proactive strategies such as:
- Exercise programs
- Physiotherapy
- Home safety assessments
- Medication reviews
- Mobility support
Reducing falls not only improves quality of life but may also reduce pressure on hospitals and emergency departments.
Chronic Conditions Drive Healthcare Utilisation
Australia’s ageing population is increasingly living with long-term health conditions.
Common chronic diseases among aged care recipients include:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Arthritis
- Dementia
- Osteoporosis
These conditions often require ongoing monitoring and treatment, increasing interactions with healthcare services.
Effective management can help reduce complications and improve health outcomes.
Delayed Hospital Discharge: An Emerging Challenge
The AIHW is also investigating issues relating to delayed hospital discharge among older Australians.
Delayed discharge occurs when a patient is medically ready to leave hospital but remains admitted due to challenges arranging appropriate support.
Common reasons include:
- Waiting for residential aged care placement
- Waiting for Home Care services
- Limited community support availability
- Complex care planning requirements
- Family circumstances
Delayed discharge can place additional pressure on hospitals and reduce bed availability for other patients.
Improving coordination between healthcare and aged care services may help address this challenge.
Supporting Older Australians to Remain Well at Home
One of the key goals of Australia’s aged care reforms is helping people remain healthy, independent, and safe in their own homes for as long as possible.
Strategies that may reduce avoidable hospital admissions include:
Early Intervention
Addressing concerns before they become serious can often prevent hospitalisation.
Regular Health Monitoring
Routine medical reviews help identify health changes early.
Access to Appropriate Services
Timely access to personal care, nursing support, allied health services, and social support can contribute to better outcomes.
Strong Care Coordination
Effective communication between healthcare providers, aged care providers, families, and carers supports continuity of care.
What Families Can Do
Families play a vital role in supporting older relatives.
Simple actions can make a significant difference:
- Attend medical appointments when possible
- Monitor changes in health or behaviour
- Encourage regular exercise and social engagement
- Review medications regularly
- Ensure support services remain appropriate as needs change
Being proactive can help reduce risks and improve overall wellbeing.
Looking Ahead
The AIHW findings highlight the close relationship between Australia’s healthcare and aged care systems.
As the number of older Australians continues to grow, ensuring effective coordination between these systems will become increasingly important.
While hospitalisation is sometimes unavoidable, early intervention, preventative care, appropriate support services, and effective care coordination may help reduce unnecessary admissions and improve quality of life for older Australians.
Understanding these trends can help families make more informed decisions about the support and services their loved ones may need.
Need Help Finding the Right Home Care Provider?
Choosing the right Home Care provider can play an important role in supporting an older person’s health, independence, and wellbeing.
Support Services Connect Australia (SSCA) offers a free Care Finding service that helps older Australians and their families compare Home Care and aged care providers based on their individual needs, preferences, location, services, and fees.
With more than 25 years of experience in the Australian aged care sector, SSCA helps families navigate available options and connect with suitable providers that support ageing well at home.