Hospitals Across the Nation Face a Humanitarian Crisis
Irene was cleared to leave the hospital but had to stay longer due to lack of home support.
In short:
The number of aged care patients stuck in hospitals has increased by over 35% in less than a year.
The government has agreed to a national task force and announced 5,000 more aged care beds per year, but states and advocates say it's not enough.
What's next?
A new program may help dementia patients stuck in hospitals move to suitable aged care services.
Kathleen's mother Irene was in the hospital for a month after being cleared to go home due to lack of support.
Kathleen was frustrated during the process of trying to bring her mother home.
Irene was approved for in-home support, but delays meant the hospital couldn't discharge her safely.
Kathleen's mother wanted to come home and have her own space and routine.
Kathleen tries to make her mother feel comfortable at home.
Kathleen found the situation frustrating and sad, wanting to spend time with her mother.
Irene is one of many older patients stuck in hospitals due to lack of aged care beds or home support.
New health data shows the problem has worsened.
Kathleen lost time with her mother, who wanted to return home.
There are almost 3,300 aged care patients stuck in hospital beds, a 35% increase in six months.
Data shows 3,274 patients in public hospitals between February and April, compared to 2,419 in September.
Long hospital stays strip elderly patients of independence and put them at risk of illness and infection.
The issue is known as 'bed block', but advocates say this term doesn't reflect the reality.
Older people are not 'bed blockers', they're stuck in hospital because the system isn't working.
Many older people feel frustrated, abandoned, and like no one cares about their situation.
Patients can't leave hospital due to lack of home support or access to aged care.
One of the biggest challenges facing health systems
The lengthy hospital stays have led to a lengthy political battle.
The issue was a key point in a spat over public hospital funding, with some premiers calling it a 'national disgrace'.
The states and territories are calling for urgent action despite a new funding agreement.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised an extra $25 billion for public hospitals.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park says the issue has broad-ranging effects.
The situation is terrible for patients, their families, and the public hospital system.
While states run hospitals, the Commonwealth is responsible for funding and regulating aged care.
Mr Park says the issue has gotten ahead of successive federal governments and requires urgent action.
Over 200,000 people are waiting for aged care services.
The situation has been coming for a long time, and it's not just this federal government's problem.
The Commonwealth needs to prioritize the issue and work with states and territories to address it.
The Commonwealth made commitments, including a $3 billion aged care package and 5,000 more beds per year by 2029.
State and territory health ministers will call for urgent action on stranded patients.
The government agreed to a national task force to improve outcomes for people stuck in hospitals.
The government says the hospital funding deal will help reduce waiting lists and get older patients out of hospital.
The deal delivers an extra $25 billion to states and territories to manage their hospital systems.
Stephen Duckett says fixing the issue will cost the Commonwealth a lot of money and take time.
With over 200,000 people waiting for aged care, the issue won't be easy to fix.
The patients stuck in public hospitals are often more complex cases.
New program offers hope
A program designed to help complex patients move out of hospital could offer hope.
The Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program helps dementia patients move to suitable aged care or go home with support.
Specialist dementia consultants work with hospitals, families, and aged care providers in 11 locations.
Dementia units are designed to be calm and easy to navigate.
The program is led by HammondCare, a not-for-profit aged care provider.
HammondCare CEO Andrew Thorburn says the program has helped almost 700 patients in its first 14 months.
The program has helped people live in a better place, with fewer returning to hospital.
Andrew Thorburn says the program has already helped hundreds of patients.
Some people come through the program after being rejected by dozens of other aged care homes.
Families are desperate, getting rejected 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 times.
The Commonwealth allocated $200 million for 20 more specialist dementia care units and an expansion of the program.
People with dementia do better in specialized facilities that are less clinical and more home-like.
The government has also invested $1 billion in building or upgrading residential aged care capacity.
But advocates say the commitments don't go far enough, and aged care services need to be incentivized.
Aged care services tend to 'cherry pick' the type of residents they want, and an incentive-based approach may help.
'I hope she lives out her final days in dignity'
Those at the center of the debate are tuning in to the discussion about stranded patients.
Kathleen reflects on the state of the system as she plays her mother a song.
Kathleen hopes her mother can spend her remaining time at home, rather than in hospital.
Kathleen wants her mother to live out her final days in dignity and peace, on her own terms.
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