Aged care services touch the lives of substantial – and increasing – numbers of people. This report draws data from several sources to explore how aged care services could better fulfil older people’s social and emotional support needs.

This document outlines a model of care that aims to address many of Australia’s longstanding healthcare challenges. The strategy has been developed by specialist general practitioners (GPs) – the health professionals with the unique dual roles of providing whole-person care over time, and acting as facilitators for healthcare in the rest of the health system.

This report focuses on trends in hospitalised (serious) fall-related injury for people aged 65 and over that occurred over the period 2007–08 to 2016–17. Information is also presented on the hospital care provided.

Although it is not known exactly how many Australians have dementia, it is estimated to affect up to 436,000 people. In 2017, dementia caused more than 13,700 deaths and was the second-leading cause of death in Australia, behind coronary heart disease (18,600 deaths). Dementia is the leading cause of death for females.

This briefing presents an analysis of a national linked dataset identifying permanent care home residents aged 65 and older and their hospital use in the year 2016/17. The second part of the briefing synthesises learning from four evaluations of the impact of initiatives to improve health and care in care homes carried out by the...