AUSTRALIA’S worsening shortage of aged care places is putting growing pressure on hospitals and general practice, with more than 3300 older Australians reportedly stuck in hospital awaiting appropriate care.
Ageing Australia, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners have jointly called for governments to urgently increase aged care capacity.
The organisations say residential aged care is effectively full, while more than 200,000 older Australians are waiting for a Support at Home package.
Ageing Australia estimates about 10,000 new aged care beds are needed each year to meet demand, but fewer than 1000 were completed last year.
CEO Tom Symondson said the lack of capacity meant some older patients recovering from strokes, falls and other medical episodes could not leave hospital because suitable residential or home support was unavailable.
“This isn’t good for older people and it places further pressure on the health system,” he said.
