Foreword

There is growing awareness across Australia of the increasing need to provide care and support for our ageing population. People are living longer and the amount of support they need from the health system is also increasing.

Most older people want to live at home in familiar surroundings for as long as possible. There is a range of support services that help them to achieve this. Health professionals also agree that living at home is best for most people.

However some older people must eventually move into residential care. Their condition may have deteriorated to the point where help in their home is no longer sufficient. Perhaps they are at increasing risk of injury because of their frailty. Or their family may no longer be able to care for them.

This audit looks at how NSW Health helps and supports those older people who are no longer able to live in their own home and who need to be accommodated in a residential aged care facility. I hope that it is of assistance to NSW Health and to those who dedicate their careers to helping older people.

Peter Achterstraat

Auditor-General

December 2006