scholarly journals Measuring Dementia Incidence Within A Cohort Of 267,153 Older Australians Using Routinely Collected Linked Administrative Data

Author(s):  
Heidi J Welberry ◽  
Henry Brodaty ◽  
Benjumin Hsu ◽  
Sebastiano Barbieri ◽  
Louisa R Jorm

IntroductionThere is no gold standard method for monitoring dementia incidence in Australia. Routinely collected linked administrative data are increasingly being used to monitor endpoints in observational studies and clinical trials and could benefit dementia research. Objectives and ApproachThis study examines dementia incidence within different Australian administrative datasets and how characteristics vary across datasets for groups detected as having dementia. This was an observational data linkage study based on a prospective cohort of 267,153 people in New South Wales, Australia from the 45 and Up Study. Participants completed a survey in 2006-2009 and dementia was identified using linked pharmaceutical claims (provided by Services Australia), hospitalisations, assessments of aged care eligibility, care needs at entry to residential aged care and death certificates. Data linkage was undertaken by the Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHeReL) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Age-specific and age-standardised incidence rates, incidence rate ratios and survival from first dementia diagnosis were calculated. ResultsAge-standardised dementia incidence was 16.9 cases per 1000 person years (PY) for people aged 65 years and over. Estimates for those aged 80-89 years were closest to published incidence rates (91% of rates for high-income countries). Relationships with dementia incidence were inconsistent across datasets for characteristics including sex, relative socio-economic disadvantage, support network size, marital status, functional limitations and diabetes. Median survival from first pharmaceutical claim for an anti-dementia medicine was 3.7 years compared to 3.0 years from first aged care eligibility assessment, 2.0 years from a dementia-related hospitalisation and 1.8 years from first residential aged care needs assessment. Conclusion / ImplicationsPeople identified with dementia in different administrative datasets have different characteristics, reflecting the factors that drive interaction with specific services. Bias may be introduced if single data sources are used to identify dementia as an outcome in observational studies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Testa ◽  
Tayhla Ryder ◽  
Jeffrey Braithwaite ◽  
Rebecca J. Mitchell

Abstract Background An existing hospital avoidance program, the Aged Care Rapid Response Team (ARRT), rapidly delivers geriatric outreach services to acutely unwell or older people with declining health at risk of hospitalisation. The aim of the current study was to explore health professionals’ perspectives on the factors impacting ARRT utilisation in the care of acutely unwell residential aged care facility residents. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two Geriatricians, two ARRT Clinical Nurse Consultants, an ED-based Clinical Nurse Specialist, and an Extended Care Paramedic. Interview questions elicited views on key factors regarding care decisions and care transitions for acutely unwell residential aged care facility residents. Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify themes and sub-themes from interviews. Results Analysis of interviews identified five overarching themes affecting ARRT utilisation in the care of acutely unwell residents: (1) resident care needs; (2) family factors; (3) enabling factors; (4) barriers; and (5) adaptability and responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion Various factors impact on hospital avoidance program utilisation in the care of acutely unwell older aged care facility residents. This information provides additional context to existing quantitative evaluations of hospital avoidance programs, as well as informing the design of future hospital avoidance programs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie E. Byles ◽  
Emily M. Princehorn ◽  
Peta M. Forder ◽  
Md Mijanur Rahman

Background: Housing is essential for healthy ageing, being a source of shelter, purpose, and identity. As people age, and with diminishing physical and mental capacity, they become increasingly dependent on external supports from others and from their environment. In this paper we look at changes in housing across later life, with a focus on the relationship between housing and women's care needs.Methods: Data from 12,432 women in the 1921–26 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were used to examine the interaction between housing and aged care service use across later life.Results: We found that there were no differences in access to home and community care according to housing type, but women living in an apartment and those in a retirement village/hostel were more likely to have an aged care assessment and had a faster rate of admission to institutional residential aged care than women living in a house. The odds of having an aged care assessment were also higher if women were older at baseline, required help with daily activities, reported a fall, were admitted to hospital in the last 12 months, had been diagnosed or treated for a stroke in the last 3 years, or had multiple comorbidities. On average, women received few services in the 24 months prior to admission to institutional residential aged care, indicating a potential need to improve the reach of these services.Discussion: We find that coincident with changes in functional capacities and abilities, women make changes to their housing, sometimes moving from a house to an apartment, or to a village. For some, increasing needs in later life are associated with the need to move from the community into institutional residential aged care. However, before moving into care, many women will use community services and these may in turn delay the need to leave their homes and move to an institutional setting. We identify a need to increase the use of community services to delay the admission to institutional residential aged care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S492-S492
Author(s):  
Mathew A Lim ◽  
Gelsomina L Borromeo

Abstract There is growing evidence demonstrating links between oral diseases and general health. The increased retention of teeth among functionally-dependent older adults presents a unique challenge in maintaining the oral health of these individuals from basic oral hygiene to accessing dental services. The results of our cross-sectional study demonstrate the important role domiciliary dental services play in reducing the barriers to accessing oral health care in this cohort. In our study, most individuals treated by domiciliary services lived in residential aged care facilities and were significantly older than those treated by hospital and community-based dental services dedicated to the specialized care of individuals with additional health care needs. A significantly higher number of those receiving domiciliary care were unable to self-consent for treatment compared to those managed in other settings. 27.4% of these patients had a diagnosis of dementia. More than half (56.9%) of patients treated by domiciliary services received some form of treatment with almost half (48.1%) of these requiring a dental extraction. Only two of these patients were not diagnosed with a chronic condition known to affect oral health (dementia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, stroke, osteoporosis). 23.7% of domiciliary appointments were used for denture fabrication. The results depict the worrying level of unmet treatment need in residents of aged care facilities. However, they also demonstrate the potential for domiciliary dental services to play a role in developing partnerships between carers and oral health professionals to improve the oral health of functionally-dependent older adults.


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne Winkler ◽  
Louise Farnworth ◽  
Sue Sloan ◽  
Ted Brown ◽  
Libby Callaway

AbstractBackground:People with severe acquired brain injury (ABI) often require high and ongoing levels of paid support, which is sometimes provided within a shared supported accommodation service (SSA). In Victoria there are more than 140 people with severe ABI living in shared supported accommodation services who have a similar level of disability as young people with ABI in residential aged care (RAC).Objectives:The aims of this article are twofold: (1) to describe the characteristics, support needs and level of community inclusion of people with an ABI living in shared SSA in Victoria and (2) to compare the characteristics, support needs, social contact, community integration and leisure participation of this group with a group of people with ABI under 50 years old living in RAC reported in a previous study.Participants:Information was obtained from SSA managers on 128 residents with an ABI, aged under 60 years, who were living in shared supported accommodation.Measures:Questionnaires were used to obtain information about the characteristics, support needs and occupational participation of participants. Support needs were measured utilising the Care and Needs Scale (CANS).Method:Questionnaires were sent to and completed by SSA managers.Results:Of the 39 SSA managers contacted, 32 provided information about the characteristics of 128 residents with ABI living in their facilities. While 72% of SSA residents accessed the community almost everyday or more often, 40% of this sample received a visit from a friend less often than once per year. Results of the CANS indicated that the SSA group required a similar level of support to the comparison group of people with ABI living in RAC, but went outside, participated in community based leisure activities, and visited friends significantly more often. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of visits to the facility from relatives or friends.Conclusion:Although the relationship between client outcomes and accommodation is a complex one, this study suggests that the type of accommodation and support has a significant impact on the frequency of community participation experienced people with ABI and high care needs.


Author(s):  
Katie Irvine ◽  
Vivienna Ong ◽  
Simon Cooper ◽  
Sarah Thackway

IntroductionMany population data linkage centres have been established to provide a mechanism for making linked administrative data available to approved third parties within robust governance frameworks. While current models support a wide variety of research, modifications are required for linked administrative data to better position biobanking research infrastructure. Objectives and ApproachWe have sought to reconfigure population data linkage services to enhance the value of a newly established state-of-the art population and disease biobank embedded within a state based pathology network, equipped with robotic technology, with the capacity to store and process more than 3 million samples from participants consenting to data linkage and future unspecified research. ResultsThree data service streams have been developed: longitudinal data linkage, cohort management and targeted recruitment. Traditional infrastructure for population data linkage will support the longitudinal data linkage stream, making data and biospecimens available for research, without direct patient identifiers. Technical and governance changes are necessary to enable the rapid release of contemporaneous patient and health system data for cohort management and recruitment purposes. The cohort management stream seeks to significantly reduce the manual follow-up of administrative data. The newly developed targeted recruitment service will leverage on the jurisdictional data holdings and structure of the health system and pathology network, to identify optimal sites and service providers for patient recruitment at scale, in an expedited manner. Conclusion/ImplicationsModest changes to population data infrastructure have significant potential to enhance biobank research infrastructure. By fast tracking biospecimen accrual for diseases of population subgroups of strategic importance, this new service is intended to promote biobank viability, accelerate the pace of clinical trials recruitment and improve patient access to trials.


Author(s):  
Janet K. Sluggett ◽  
Samanta Lalic ◽  
Sarah M. Hosking ◽  
Brett Ritchie ◽  
Jennifer McLoughlin ◽  
...  

Infections are leading causes of hospitalizations from residential aged care services (RACS), which provide supported accommodation for people with care needs that can no longer be met at home. Preventing infections and early and effective management are important to avoid unnecessary hospital transfers, particularly in the Australian setting where new quality standards require RACS to minimize infection-related risks. The objective of this study was to examine root causes of infection-related hospitalizations from RACS and identify strategies to limit infections and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. An aggregate root cause analysis (RCA) was undertaken using a structured local framework. A clinical nurse auditor and clinical pharmacist undertook a comprehensive review of 49 consecutive infection-related hospitalizations from 6 RACS. Data were collected from nursing progress notes, medical records, medication charts, hospital summaries, and incident reports using a purpose-built collection tool. The research team then utilized a structured classification system to guide the identification of root causes of hospital transfers. A multidisciplinary clinical panel assessed the root causes and formulated strategies to limit infections and hospitalizations. Overall, 59.2% of hospitalizations were for respiratory, 28.6% for urinary, and 10.2% for skin infections. Potential root causes of infections included medications that may increase infection risk and resident vaccination status. Potential contributors to hospital transfers included possible suboptimal selection of empirical antimicrobial therapy, inability of RACS staff to establish on-site intravenous access for antimicrobial administration, and the need to access subsidized medical services not provided in the RACS (e.g., radiology and pathology). Strategies identified by the panel included medication review, targeted bundles of care, additional antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, earlier identification of infection, and models of care that facilitate timely access to medical services. The RCA and clinical panel findings provide a roadmap to assist targeting services to prevent infection and limit unnecessary hospital transfers from RACS.


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne Winkler ◽  
Sue Sloan ◽  
Libby Callaway

AbstractObjectives:The aim of this article is to describe the characteristics, needs and preferences of people under 50 with an acquired brain injury (ABI) living in residential aged care in Victoria and examine implications for service development.Participants:Sixty-one people under 50 with an ABI living in residential aged care in the state of Victoria.Measures:Care and Needs Scale, Community Integration Questionnaire, Overt Behaviour Scale, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale — ABI Version, Role Checklist, Resident Choice Scale.Results:The younger people with ABI in this study were a diverse group with a complex range of health and support needs that were not being adequately met within residential aged care. Many people (44%) required the highest level of support, indicating they could not be left alone while 26% could be left for part of the day and overnight. Most people (81%) and their support networks indicated they would like to explore moving out from residential aged care into community accommodation settings.Conclusions:This article provides clear direction for the development of services to meet the care needs of this group, to enable them to participate in the life of the community and to pursue a lifestyle of choice.


2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
N.M. PEEL ◽  
R.E. HUBBARD ◽  
L.C. GRAY

Objectives:To describe the characteristics and outcomes of frail older people in a post-acutetransitional care program and to compare the recovery trajectories of patients with high and low care needs todetermine who benefits from transition care. Design:Prospective observational cohort. Participants and Setting:351 patients admitted to community-based transition care in two Australian states during an 11 monthrecruitment period. Intervention:Transition care provides a package of services including personal care,physiotherapy and occupational therapy, nursing care and case management post discharge from hospital. It istargeted at frail older people who, in the absence of an alternative, would otherwise be eligible for admission toresidential aged care. Measurements: A comprehensive geriatric assessment using the interRAI Home Careinstrument was conducted at transition care admission and discharge. Primary outcomes included changes infunctional ability during transition care, living status at discharge and six months follow-up, and hospital re-admissions over the follow-up period. For comparison of outcomes, the cohort was divided into two groups basedon risk factors for admission to high or low-level residential aged care. Results:There were no significantdifferences between groups on outcomes, with over 85% of the cohort living in the community at follow-up.More than 80% of the cohort showed functional improvement or maintenance of independence during transitioncare, with no significant differences between the groups. Conclusions:Post-acute programs should not betargeted solely at fitter older people: those who are frail also have the potential to gain from community-basedrehabilitation.


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