Community social engagements reduce risk of permanent residential care by 6%

Did you know that older adults reduce the risk of entering permanent residential care by 6% for each additional hour of community care?

A new study has found that those who used social support services, such as one-on-one companionship and assistance to attend community-based social services, stayed in their own homes for longer compared to those who preferred domestic assistance.

It suggests that improving the outcomes for older adults means shifting the focus from physical exercise and requirements to more social engagements.

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“Nearly one million older Australians access home and community aged care services each year, at a cost to the government of over $4 billion. Yet, this study is the first in Australia, and one of very few internationally, to connect service use and meaningful outcomes in home and community care,” according to Dr Mikaela Jorgensen from the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University.

Furthermore she said that results reveal that having greater access to these community services may allow residents to stay in their own homes for longer.

“This study shows that home care services do help to keep older people in their own home for longer,” she said. “This is what home care is designed to do.”

But do you know another way for people to get to social engagements? AMS’ range of scooters and wheelchairs means that you don’t need to be stuck in your home the whole time. You can go out and enjoy life with friends and family thanks to our power mobility range.