The Monash University Accident Research Centre released its report into unintentional injury among older residents of aged care facilities on Tuesday.

The report, titled Hazard, reveals most injuries in aged care facilities occurred because of falls, at around 88 per cent. 

Those aged 85 years and older make up majority of hospital admissions at more than 64 per cent. 

“This group should therefore be the particular focus of injury prevention efforts,” the report recommends. 

Females accounted for 70 per cent of all admissions.

The revelations come after the announcement of a royal commission into aged care in September and the release of a Health, Aged Care and Sport Committee report into aged care on Monday. 

The Australian Medical Association has advocated for a registered nurse-to-resident ratio that aligns with the level of care need, and ensures 24-hour registered nurse availability.

The call, which is supported by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery, follows concerns of Ballarat families shared with The Courier of inadequate levels of care. 

One woman, who asked not to be named, said she was afraid for the safety of her mother who lives at an aged care facility in Ballarat. 

“Sometimes I am just beside myself because I am scared. Mum is always crying,” she said. 

For those with dementia, the second most common cause of hospital admission was found to be choking/suffocating at 3.1 per cent. 

The report recommends the development and/or implementation of choking and suffocation preventive guidelines and standards specific to residents with dementia.

Data also reveals a statistically significantly higher proportion of patients with dementia died in hospital compared to those without dementia, 5.6 per cent versus 3.5 per cent. 

Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit director Dr Janneke Berecki-Gisolf said an ageing population meant there was a need to understand trends in hospital admissions among older aged care residents.

The report identified a trend of older people choosing to remain in their own home rather than moving into aged care.

It recommends state and federal-funded investigations into injury and injury prevention among those receiving care in their own home.

You can read the full report online. 

RELATED COVERAGE: