Majority of older Australians who are admitted to hospital are able to return to their home in the community after they are discharged, according to a report released on Friday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report throws light on the quality of hospital care for older patients in Australia. Its findings also indicate that factors such as age and having dementia increase the likelihood of a person entering care after being discharged from hospital.

According to figures from OECD, in 2012, 14 per cent of the Australian population was aged 65 or over (compared to the OECD average of 15 per cent in 2010) and 3.8 per cent of the population was aged 80 or over (compared to the OECD average 4 per cent in 2010).

By 2050, OECD projections indicate, 22 per cent of the Australian population is projected to be aged 65 or over and about 8 per cent of the population to be aged 80 or over.

Commenting on the report, AIHW spokesperson Dr Pamela Kinnear said that about 90 per cent of the 1.1 million hospitalisations a year for older Australians were for people who lived at home in the community. Nearly all the rest were for those living in residential care.

You can read more here – http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/507548/20130920/australia-australian-institute-health-welfare-aihw-hospital.htm#.Uj-XIWQ-IzY

To find out about how to receive care in the home, contact Guardian Network today www.guardian-network.com.au