Most elderly in care before their death

THE vast majority of older Australians spent their final years in an aged-care home or community care program before their death, a new report shows.

Most people aged 65 or older were in an aged-care program when they died. Picture: Christopher Chan

THE vast majority of older Australians spent their final years in an aged-care home or community care program before their death, a new report shows.

Despite much research showing many people prefer to die at home, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report shows 80% of those aged 65 or older used aged care in their final eight years of life.

Of the 116,500 people aged 65 or older in 2010-11, 60% were in an aged-care program when they died. About half of that age bracket who died in 2010-11 started using aged care more than four years before their death.

Those aged 85 or older used care before their death at much higher rates than those aged 65-74 years, at 91% compared to 57%.

Across the age groups, most first used community care (80%), or a mix of community and residential care (46%), while only 10% used permanent residential care in their final years.