Final Report on RREF 2001 - Department of Health

Part B: Development of Options for a Revised RREF
Table 1.3: Comparisons of Base Population Options for adjusting for Frail Aged
Population Under 70 Over 70 Total
% % No. ‘000
Total Victorian population 2001 91 9 4,770.4
HACC Client population ~30 ~70
RREF 92: Handicap to age 85 in community plus total 68 32 383.4
85 and over in community
Option 1: Handicap at all ages in community, no
71 29 366.6
adjustment for frail aged
Option 2: Handicap to age 70, plus total 70 and over, 42 58 626.4
in community
Option 3: Handicap to age 70, plus handicap aged 70
and over, in community, doubled.
55 45 471.6
The figures in Table 1.3 are based on the 1998 DACS population in private dwellings only and
so do not correspond exactly with figures for RREF base populations given later in this <strong>Report</strong>.
In the base populations discussed below, only residential aged care and disability
accommodation and not other forms of non-private dwellings have been subtracted, and other
adjustments have been also made as detailed below.
As both Options 2 and 3 give added weight to the population aged 70 and over it is important to
identify the potential impact of this adjustment across the state. Overall, 9% of Victoria’s
population was aged 70 and over in 2001, but there are wide variations between LGAs. Melton
has the lowest proportion aged 70 and over, just 3.5% and Queenscliffe the highest, 21.0%. Of
the 78 LGAs, 30 have less than 9% aged 70 and over, and 20 of these are metropolitan LGAs.
Of the 48 LGAs which have more than 9% aged 70 and over, 37 are rural LGAs. However,
even though more rural LGAs are older than metropolitan areas, the majority of the older
population live in metropolitan areas. The proportion aged 70 and over is mapped in Figure 3.
As weighting of base populations takes the absolute numbers of older people into account, the
outcomes reflect the actual numbers of older people in any LGA rather than just the proportion
they comprise of the total population. Thus, while Queenscliff has the highest proportion aged
70 and over, it has the third smallest number of aged resident, less than 500 people. At the same
time, over one third of the all those aged 70 and over live in just eight large metropolitan LGAs
which each have over 14,000 aged residents, together with Greater Geelong.
These differences in the distribution of the population aged 70 and over are amplified in Options
2 and 3 in somewhat different ways. Option 2 gives increased weight to the population aged 70
and over directly by counting all aged 70 and over in. Doubling of the handicapped population
aged 70 and over in Option 3 gives more weight to the oldest age groups as rates of handicap
increase with advancing age. In Option 3, the total handicapped population aged 70 and over is
doubled before any of the other population components are subtracted. The effect is then to
discount the subtractions by 50%, and this is seen to be consistent with allowing some
continuing use of HACC services by these population segments as discussed further below.
1.5 OTHER EXCLUSIONS
The implementation of the Veterans’ Home Care Program in early 2001 was identified as
having the potential to alleviate demand for HACC services as it removes eligible veterans from
the HACC target population. The number of veterans estimated to be eligible for the VHC in
early 2001 was 67,766. The way in which the veteran population should be recognised was an
area of considerable discussion in the Round 2 Consultations and this matter is taken up below.
<strong>Final</strong> <strong>Report</strong> July 2001 22