A population based study of the use of acute hospital services by elderly people living in residential care. [ 2003 - 2004 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Judith Finn (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Cashel Holman ,  Prof George Jelinek ,  Prof Ian Jacobs ,  Prof Leon Flicker

Brief description This project will be the first population based Australian study to describe the pattern of utilisation of acute hospital services by elderly people living in residential care. It will provide much needed information on which to base health policy decisions relating to the acute care needs of the most frail elderly members of our community. Within a context of an ageing demographic profile of the Australian population, it is essential that the dynamic interplay between acute care services and the residential aged-care sector be elucidated, both for current service provision and for better prediction of future service requirements. This study will make use of existing linked health data sources in WA to achieve the following aims: 1. To provide health service planners with information about the rates, patterns, causes, outcomes and costs of acute emergency department and in-patient hospital services for elderly persons living in residential care in Perth, Western Australia. 2. To develop a population model to determine future acute hospital requirements for elderly persons living in residential care. 3. To estimate the potential impact of alternate modes of integration of acute and long-term care on the utilisation of acute hospital services by hostel and nursing home residents.

Funding Amount $AUD 127,000.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant