Wellbeing of Older Persons in Residential Aged Care Stage 1: Final Report

Of the 1.2 million Australians receiving aged care services in Australia, greater than 270,000 reside in RAC, representing the greatest proportion of
government aged care spending. The aged care sector is expanding to match the growing older Australian population with 125 aged care places to be provided per 1,000 people aged 70 years or older in 2021-2, with most of these in RAC. Older Australians in RAC are at high risk of physical deconditioning due to their
age, functional impairment, complex co-morbidities and sedentary behaviour. Physical deconditioning is the physiological change from inactivity that results
in decreased muscle mass, weakness, functional decline, and difficulty performing daily living activities. Physical deconditioning is a hallmark of frailty, an age-associated clinical syndrome reflecting decreased physiological reserves and increased susceptibility to the impacts of external stressors. It is estimated that approximately 2.1 million Australians aged 65 and over are pre-frail or frail, with this number set to increase rapidly in the coming decade.