Over half of aged care residents have dementia

More than 50% of residents in Australian Government-subsidised aged care facilities in 2008–09 had dementia, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Dementia among aged care residents: first information from the Aged Care Funding Instrument, outlines, for the first time, the characteristics and care requirements of those residents with a diagnosis of dementia.

It shows that about 104,400 out of 198,500 permanent residents assessed by the Aged Care Funding Instrument had a diagnosis of dementia in 2008–09.

“There is a higher prevalence of dementia in older Australians – about 80% of aged care residents with dementia are aged 80 years and over,” said Mr Brent Diverty of the AIHW’s Continuing and Specialised Care Group.

“While relatively few aged care residents with a diagnosis of dementia identified themselves as Indigenous (about 0.6% of all aged care residents with dementia), among this group, a higher proportion were younger – 16% of Indigenous residents with dementia were aged under 65 years, compared with 2% of non-Indigenous residents with dementia.”

Nearly 90% (91,300) of residents with dementia were determined to have high level care needs, compared with about 70% (63,800) of other residents.

“Residents with dementia and high level care requirements stay longer in aged care facilities, compared with residents with similar care needs and no dementia diagnosis,” Mr Diverty said.

The average annual Australian Government subsidy (excluding supplements) paid in 2008–09 for a permanent resident with a diagnosis of dementia was $38,100, compared with $31,600 for other residents.

“Dementia is the leading cause of disease burden in Australians aged 75 years and over,” Mr Diverty said.

Alzheimer’s disease was the most common type of dementia diagnosed (76% of dementia residents), followed by vascular dementia (10%), other dementia (8%), dementia in other diseases (4%), and mixed dementia (2%).

(Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Dementia among aged care residents)

More information

For more information on dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, information for carers of dementia patients and supportive care, as well as some useful tools and videos, see Dementia.