Queensland Government puts focus on older Australians waiting for a place to call home
Dr Lucy Dakin cares for older patients at The Prince Charles Hospital.
Queenslanders awaiting a place in aged care are in the spotlight, as more than 1,400 people remain in the state’s public hospitals despite being clinically ready to go ‘home’.
As the largest hospital and health service in the state, Metro North Health geriatrician Dr Lucy Dakin knows exactly how many older Australians are eagerly awaiting a place in aged care, and the importance of finding them a placement as soon as possible.
Dr Dakin works at The Prince Charles Hospital where she remains focussed on treating older patients who are unwell, but is always happiest when she can see her patients go home.
“Not all patients will be well enough to return to the home they have known, and many are waiting for aged care placements in a residential aged care facility,” Dr Dakin said.
“We know our patients who are well enough to leave hospital should not be spending longer than they need in a hospital ward – it’s much better for patients both clinically and emotionally if they can be discharged to their new home.
“As a geriatrician, we work hard to keep our older patients awaiting aged care placements as physically and emotionally well as we can, but we understand that more interim care arrangements and aged care solutions are needed.
“We treat unwell patients, but when a patient is well enough to be discharged to their new home with supports so they can continue doing the things they love, we want to see them do that.”
Statewide, long-stay patients experiencing delayed discharge have more than tripled since 2022.
With demand for residential aged care projected to surge by 60 per cent over the next decade, the pressure will only intensify as one in five Queenslanders are expected to reach age 65 or older by 2041.
Funding the aged care sector is a federal responsibility, and without sufficient Commonwealth investment, older Queenslanders may remain stuck in hospital unnecessarily.
In addition to local initiatives, whole of system measures are also being undertaken by the Queensland Government to alleviate pressure on the broader health system, including more beds, new hospitals, and more frontline health workers.
Metro North has seen an increase in patients awaiting a placement, with an additional 22 older delayed discharge patients since April this year.