Government-owned aged care homes linked to fewer hospital visits in Australia
Experts have raised concerns about a gradual shift in ownership and management models in Australia's aged care facilities—and the subsequent impact this has on the quality of care and resident health outcomes.
A new study published in BMJ Open reveals that government-owned aged care homes in Australia have fewer hospital-related visits compared to privately-owned and for-profit facilities. Researchers from Flinders University analyzed data from over 200,000 long-term care facility residents in the Registry of Senior Australians national cohort, spanning from 2013 to 2018.
The study found that 8,961 (4.4%) of these residents lived in government-owned homes, 105,144 (51.3%) resided in not-for-profit homes, and 90,974 (44.4%) were in for-profit homes. Lead author Dr. Miia Rahja noted that government-owned aged care homes were associated with lower risks of emergency department presentations, unplanned hospitalizations, and hospital days.
This trend was particularly evident in Australia's inner-regional areas, suggesting that both ownership and geographic location may impact resident outcomes. The findings align with the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's investigations and emphasize the importance of ongoing monitoring of aged care home ownership to ensure financial, quality, and social accountability.
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