FED: Hostel places increase but demand constant

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-1998
FED: Hostel places increase but demand constant

By Katrina Willis

CANBERRA, Dec 11 AAP - There are more hostel beds, mostly for elderly people, but occupancy
rates remain high, a report released today says.

The number of hostel beds across Australia rose by 3.5 per cent in the year to June 1997
but occupancy rates were 93 per cent, similar to the early 1990s, the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare report states.

"While there was an increase in the number of places, growth in the number of older persons
meant that the ratio of places to persons aged 70 and over remained constant," Institute aged
care unit head Diane Gibson said.

"In 1997, there were 42 hostel places per 1,000 persons aged 70 and over."

Hostels provide permanent and respite care, mostly to elderly people.

Just under half of all residents at June last year (48 per cent) were aged 85 or older.

Three-quarters of the 60,122 hostel residents were women.

One in five hostel residents had been in a hostel for five years or more, and half had been
resident for between one and five years.

One in three permanent residents moved to a nursing home, 17 per cent went to a hospital,
eight per cent returned to the community, three per cent were transferred to another hostel
and 32 per cent died.

Most hostel residents were in places managed by not-for-profit organisations, six per cent
in places managed by government, and three per cent in for-profit centres.

Demand for respite, or short-term, places grew. While respite residents accounted for less
than three per cent of total residents at June last year, they comprised more than half (54
per cent) of all admissions during the 12 months to June.

People admitted for respite care were more likely to be living in the community with carers
and to have a partner, although almost one half of people admitted were living alone at the
time they entered a hostel.

AAP kaw/mfh/was

KEYWORD: AGED

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