Hospitalizations Before and After Entry Into Long-Term Care

Older adults, particularly those with declining health, have frequent hospitalizations. These hospitalizations can result in cognitive and functional decline, and many are considered potentially avoidable with appropriate care. Many countries have invested in services that help older individuals with declining health to live at home longer, including home care package support and respite care for carers, but also long-term residential care for those who no longer can live at home.

Studies in New Zealand, Germany, and Canada have shown a substantial increase in hospitalizations in the months prior to entry into long-term care, which demonstratively decrease after entry into care. This suggests that entry into long-term care itself is a significant intervention that can reduce hospitalizations, with important consequences for individuals’ well-being and likely of cost of care.

Our study examined whether a similar pattern of increasing hospitalization before entry into long-term care and subsequent decline in hospitalization after, was observed in Australia.