Recommended long term care settings following aged care assessments in Australia

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 29;13(11):e0204342. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204342. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of recommended long term care settings following aged care assessments in Australia. Using unique administrative data on 500,000 aged care assessments, we utilized multinomial logistic regression models to estimate the association between characteristics of the individual (their assistance needs, health conditions and demographic characteristics) and the recommended long-term care setting. The vast majority (94%) of recommended long-term care settings were for private residences (54%) or residential care (40%). Persons assessed in a setting other than a private residence were unlikely to have a recommended setting for a private residence. Consistent with the assessors toolkit, assistance needs were strongly associated with long term care recommendations. Results provide strong support for the evidence-based approach of aged care assessments in Australia. Nonetheless, with improvements in administrative data linkages and ongoing policy reforms, further analysis is required to reinforce extant policy guidelines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Australia
  • Delivery of Health Care*
  • Female
  • Health Services for the Aged*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Private Practice*
  • Time Factors

Grants and funding

MJ received funding support from the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) CE1101029. JT is funded by the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) CE1101029. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.