Aged Care & Rehabilitation Clinical Services Plan 2007 – 2012

Aged Care & Rehabilitation Clinical Service Plan 2007 - 2012It is recognised that people from CALD communities with dementia are likely to revert to theirlanguage of birth as their dementia progresses. They will face greater problems in communication,resulting in further clinical management problems.There is little information on prevalence of dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplein Australia. However they may experience the physical and cognitive impacts of ageing at anearlier age. A NHMRC funded study into dementia and cognitive problems in urban indigenouscommunities is being undertaken. This study, which includes the SSWAHS communities, will seekto identify appropriate care models for Aboriginal people with dementia and cognitive problems.4.1.2 People with DeliriumDelirium is an acute, reversible organic brain disorder characterised by reduced ability to maintainattention to external stimuli and disorganised thinking as manifested by rambling, irrelevant orincoherent speech. The Australian Society of Geriatric Medicine (2005) reports the prevalence ratesof delirium on admission are 10% - 24% and that delirium develops in up to 56% of older people inhospital (climbing to 61% post operatively). All these patients require rapid assessment followed bythe development of management plans that involve minimising the risk of adverse events during theacute phase and supporting carers in maintaining their caring role post discharge4.1.3 People with Fall Related Injuries or at risk of Fall Related InjuriesOlder people (over 75 years) are known to have a higher incidence of fall related injury than theremainder of the population. Fall related injuries have a significant impact on the quality of life ofolder people and are a significant cost to the NSW Health system in terms of inpatient andresidential aged care beds, medical and allied health staff, and pharmaceuticals (NSW Health,2005b).NSW Health is projecting a considerable increase in the SSWAHS bed day demand for people aged75+ years, with an additional 17,923 bed days required between 2001 and 2016, an increase of44%. Falls related bed days are also projected to increase in the 60 -74 year age group, with anadditional 8,028 bed days required by 2016, an increase of a little more than two thirds (NSWDepartment of Health, 2005b). See Figure 4.2 following.Figure 4.2 Falls Related Bed Day Projections 2001 - 2016100,000Bed Days80,00060,00040,00020,00002001 2006 2011 20160-44 7,444 7,582 7,796 8,06145-59 4,655 5,287 5,738 6,18360-74 11,684 12,589 14,979 17,26975+ 40,183 46,706 51,696 58,106total 63,966 72,164 80,209 89,619YearSource: NSW Fall Injury Risk Indicators for SSWAHS 2001 – 2021 (2005)In 2001, 208 beds were required in SSWAHS to manage fall related injuries. This is projected toincrease by 38% to 288 beds in 2016 (assuming an occupancy rate of 85%). This equates to anadditional 80 beds.Page 26