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The Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services aims to develop and support communities, and to help Tasmanians retain, maintain or improve levels of physical function or independence in the community. Where possible, services are delivered in a multi-disciplinary framework, with strong links to general practitioners.

Services include acute in-patient, emergency and outpatient services in rural health sites and community-based care such as community nursing, home help, outreach services, health promotion, rehabilitation, residential aged care services in rural areas, etc. The state government also operates an Aged Care Assessment Program to assess the needs of those requiring care. In 2002-03, the Department of Health and Human Services completed 4,356 aged care assessments.

The Australian Department of Health and Ageing administers a number of programs for older members of society, including the Residential Aged Care Program in which the cost for each person in a residential care setting is subsidised by the Australian Government. These aged care places are allocated in proportion to the number of people aged 70 years or older. At 30 June 2003, there were 3,988 residential aged care places in Tasmania. Of these, 3,896 were occupied, with 73.4% of places occupied by females.

Community Aged Care Packages are also funded by the Australian Government, and provide an integrated package of services which may include home help, laundry, shopping, assistance with meals and bathing. The Community Aged Care Packages Program aims to support those people who prefer to stay at home rather than enter residential care. At 30 June 2003, there were 741 Tasmanians receiving this support. Approximately 77.1% of recipients were female.

AGED CARE - Tasmania
				Unit	Tasmania
Aged care assessments(a)				no.	4,356
Residential aged care
	Places			no.	3,988
		Residents(b)
			Males	no.	1,035
			Females	no.	2,861
			Total	no.	3,896
	Bed occupancy rate(c)			%	97.8
Community Aged Care Program (CACP)
	Recipients
		Males		no.	170
		Females		no.	571
		Total		no.	741
	CACP Package take-up rate			%	95.8
(a) Number of assessment completed during the 2002-03 financial year. (b) Resident details are as at 30 June 2003. (c) Occupancy details are for the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003. Source: Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Health and Ageing.