The costs and experiences of caring for sick and disabled geriatric patients--Australian observations.
The costs and experiences of caring for geriatric patients and the effectiveness of a geriatric assessment team have been reviewed in this study from the New South Wales Central Coast. The findings were: that some clients who are referred for placement in nursing homes and who meet standard criteria for admission can be maintained in the community; the cost to the taxpayer of persons admitted to nursing homes was at least $449 to $776 per week (1991 prices), compared to an average cost of $89 per week to maintain at home those whose original assessment met all the criteria for nursing home placement; assessments of needs of some clients were being conducted by five or more separate agencies which led to increased costs and created distrust and confusion for the client; a key factor in the decision to maintain a client in the community was found to be the availability and motivation of carers. A geriatric assessment team has an essential role in mobilising expert assessment and facilitates access to community-based support services to obviate or delay admissions to nursing homes.
Smith
B
B
Geriatric Assessment Team, Central Coast Area Health Service, Gosford.
O'Malley
S
S
Lawson
J
J
D000368:Aged; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales