Hospitalisation rates in residential aged care

New research by the Office of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety shows the rates of hospitalisation of aged care facility residents aged 65 years or more. In 2018/19, 10.5 per cent of residents were hospitalised for a fall; 5.4 per cent were hospitalised for a fracture; 3.4 per cent were hospitalised with a pressure injury; and 1.9 per cent were hospitalised with weight loss or malnutrition.

The rates were calculated by linking residential aged care data to each state and territory's hospital admissions and emergency department data. The results are presented in Research Paper 18 – Hospitalisations in Australian Aged Care: 2014/15–2018/19.

This is the first time aged care hospitalisation rates have been calculated at a national level.

The research paper also shows the variation in hospitalisation rates across residential care facilities. Information like this can assist consumers to choose between aged care services, assist the regulator to address non-compliance with care standards, and assist providers to continually improve the quality of the services they deliver.

The research paper was prepared for the information of the Royal Commissioners and the public. Any views expressed in the paper are not necessarily the views of the Commissioners.

To read the Royal Commission's research papers, please visit the publications page.