Community aged care tough for elderly and carers
Posted
by DPS
More than half of Australian elderly people receiving community aged care suffer depression, and 44% have a major health change over a 12 month period, including moving into a nursing home, suffering a major loss of physical or mental function, or dying.
A Monash University study of more than 300 older Victorians receiving federally funded care packages through the non-profit Baptcare organisation, found that poorer people were more likely to suffer a significant health change.
Of those surveyed, over 60% had a carer and two thirds of the people in that role reported high levels of strain.
More than 42,000 older Australians receive similar community based care packages
