Australian older persons mental health inpatient and ambulatory services in 2015–2020 – A descriptive analysis and commentary-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Australian older persons mental health inpatient and ambulatory services in 2015–2020 – A descriptive analysis and commentary

Published:2022-11-06 Issue:1 Volume:31 Page:43-46
ISSN:1039-8562
Container-title:Australasian Psychiatry
language:en
Short-container-title:Australas Psychiatry

Author:

Brazel Matthew¹^ORCID,Allison Stephen²^ORCID,Bastiampillai Tarun³^ORCID,Kisely Stephen⁴^ORCID,Loi Samantha M⁵^ORCID,Looi Jeffrey CL⁶^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, The Australian National University School of Medicine and Psychology, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, Australia; and Department of Psychiatry, The Canberra Hospital, Garran, ACT, Australia

2. Consortium of Australian-Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy and Research Analysis (CAPIPRA), Canberra, ACT, Australia; and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

3. Consortium of Australian-Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy and Research Analysis (CAPIPRA), Canberra, ACT, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; and Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

4. Consortium of Australian-Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy and Research Analysis (CAPIPRA), Canberra, ACT, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia; and Departments of Psychiatry, Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

5. Consortium of Australian-Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy and Research Analysis (CAPIPRA), Canberra, ACT, Australia; University of Melbourne, Psychiatry, Grattan Street, Parkville VIC, Australia; and Melbourne Health, Neuropsychiatry NorthWestern Mental Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, Australia

6. Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, The Australian National University School of Medicine and Psychology, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, Australia; and Consortium of Australian-Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy and Research Analysis (CAPIPRA), Canberra, ACT, Australia

Abstract

Objective To provide a commentary on Australian state/territory older persons mental health service (OPMHS) expenditure, inpatient and outpatient services and key performance indicators (KPIs). Method Descriptive analysis of data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the World Health Organisation. Results Between 2015–16 and 2019–20, annual expenditure on OPMHS in Australia increased by an average of only 2.3%, compared to 2.9% for all population groups, despite an increase in the number of over 65 year olds. Per capita recurrent expenditure on OPMHS decreased by an average of 1% annually. Australia’s total mental health beds increased, whereas OPMHS beds decreased, mainly due to a reduction in non-acute beds. Outcomes for OPMHS admissions were similar to other age groups, except for a longer length of stay and reduced readmission rate. Older Australians accessed ambulatory mental health care at a lower rate and had a lower rate of improvement after a completed episode. Conclusions OPMHS expenditure has not increased at commensurate levels compared to other populations. The mental health of people aged over 65 appears to be a neglected policy priority in Australia. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety may herald service and expenditure changes.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Psychiatry and Mental health

Link

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/10398562221135492

Reference12 articles.

1. Demographic change and the future demand for public hospital care in Australia, 2005 to 2050

2. Commonwealth of Australia. Royal Comission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, 2021.