Nation's worst aged care bed block sees specialist outreach services expanded
With residential aged care beds already beyond a scarcity in the NSW Illawarra region, and the situation likely to be replicated across the nation in the future with more than one in four people aged over 65 in two years’ time, new or forgotten initiatives must be brought out.
All 25 residential aged care facilities in the Illawarra now have access to a dedicated outreach service, which is a NSW Government initiative to prevent unnecessary trips to hospital emergency department for elderly and vulnerable patients.
Previously, aged care homes had no other alternative than to call an ambulance for transfer to a hospital emergency department when residents have needed a higher level of assessment or care. The residents often are transferred into a hospital bed. A report released by the Community Industry Group (CIG), stated some residents waited up to 200 days after discharge before they actually left the hospital wards.
NSW Health said following an initial roll out in July 2023, the Aged Care Outreach Service (ACOS) has seen 981 residents, with 80% able to be managed in their home without needing to visit a hospital emergency department or need hospital care.
The ACOS involves a team of specialist nurses, doctors and other clinicians who provide in-home medical care to residents. They can treat a range of conditions including urinary tract infections, chest infections, acute delirium, minor injuries, dehydration, and wound management.
If a resident’s condition cannot be managed by the ACOS team, they can still be transferred to a hospital emergency department. The program also facilitates direct admissions to hospital wards for people requiring a higher level of care, which means older patients avoid extended waits in the emergency department.
The ACOS team has conducted more than 40 education sessions for aged care home staff, helping them enhance the care they provide.
