Despite decades of government programs, many carers cite unmet needs to support their carer role, including a need for financial support, physical and emotional support, improvement in their health and more respite care. Concerningly, we find the presence of unmet need is associated with reduced carer satisfaction, deleterious financial outcomes, stressed carer–recipient relationships and poorer physical and emotional health. Carers are heterogeneous, and addressing their unmet needs requires tailored solutions.

Although the effects of self-management are currently known, little is known about how older adults manage chronic diseases by themselves in their daily lives. Self-monitoring, self-evaluating and self-intervening behaviours of older adults with chronic diseases were examined. Similarities and differences among older adults with different daily activity abilities were revealed.

Health and social systems must adapt to assist older people with complex needs to manage their health and remain living at home for as long as possible. This study confirmed complexity as more than multimorbidity; previous hospital utilisation is not a consistent indicator, yet cultural context and the living and caring situation are important. There is an opportunity for GPs to be supported to accurately identify the complex needs of older people so that preventative, comprehensive care can be provided.

Frailty can place community-dwelling older adults at increased risk of adverse health outcomes; however, few studies of older Australians in the community have been undertaken. This is the first Australian study providing self-reported level of frailty among a sample of older adults receiving home care packages from an Australian aged care and disability service provider, and the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with frailty.

These study results show in the 9-year period from 2011, national uptake of older person health assessments (75+HAs) has only increased to approximately one-third of the age-eligible population, with those aged 85+ years now more likely than those aged 75–84 years to be undertaking 75+HAs. The proportion of long and prolonged 75+HAs have also increased. There are clear variations between States; however, encouragingly the age-standardised trend is increasing.

Currently, there is low uptake by older Australians to receiving annual health assessments (HAs); however, little is known regarding health professionals’ views about these. This paper explored the attitudes of health professionals towards older person HAs. This study showed most health professionals perceived HAs to be useful; however, insufficient time and patient refusal presented barriers to delivery. Increased patient education and public awareness, and increased Medicare funding (including HAs conducted at the patient’s home), could improve uptake.

Carers play an important role in supporting the health care needs of older Australians, yet how carers attend to their own health care needs has been largely overlooked. This study shows that 31% of carers of older Australians reported a barrier to health care, with one-third of this group reporting barriers at many points in the healthcare system. Barriers were heightened for carers with a disability or those in carer distress. Addressing these barriers is critical to the success of the Australian Government’s policy of ageing in place.

Do we understand the primary care needs and experiences of older people who live in the community and need assistance with daily activities? These patients were able to find a GP according to their preferences, but there were some challenges in accessing comprehensive care. These challenges relate to regularity of PC attendance, out-of-pocket fees for specialist care and maintaining an enduring patient–GP relationship. GPs can play an important role in improving primary care access for vulnerable elderly patients.

A defining feature of integrated models is improved patient and carer experience of care, yet there is a scarcity of studies examining their perspective of service delivery. This paper provides insights into the implementation of an integrated model of care from the perspectives of older people and their carers. Examination of patient and carer experiences is essential for comprehensive service evaluation.