Almost 58% of people entering residential aged care have a mental health condition
Almost 58% of all people aged 65 years and over entering permanent residential aged care between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2022 had a mental health condition, according to the latest data from the Federal Government's Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The figure, published in the latest data from the Federal Government's Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), has been obtained through aged care assessments data between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2022, and includes mental health conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. It does not include dementia. For older people assessed for Home Care, 23.1% recorded a mental health condition in their aged care eligibility assessment when they commenced receiving care.
These figures are substantially higher than those for the general population, where 9.6% of people aged 65 to 85 years have a mental health condition, according to a 2022 study.
"In addition, approximately half of older adults using residential aged care services have dementia, and many experience loneliness," the AIHW stated.
The data can be viewed here.
