Tales from the ACFI: Dementia in residential aged care.
OBJECTIVE
Provide an overview of how care needs in permanent residential aged care differ by dementia status.


METHODS
On entry into permanent residential aged care, people's care needs are assessed on the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI). ACFI also captures health conditions that are considered to affect the cost of people's care, such as dementia. Data were compared between 2009 and 2015.


RESULTS
Assessed care needs have increased regardless of dementia status. However, compared with people without dementia, people with dementia were more likely to be rated 'high' in each of the three care need domains. In addition, people with dementia were more likely to require some assistance in specific areas that underlie these broad domains, such as nutrition, continence and cognition.


CONCLUSIONS
Dementia is associated with increased complexity in assessed care needs in permanent residential aged care.
National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Jenni
J
Joenperä
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001519:Behavior; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000191:economics; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors
aged; dementia; financial management; homes for the aged; needs assessment