PDF printable version of Transition Care Places: Helping Older People Recover and Return to Their Homes (PDF 23 KB)
7 November 2008
As at November 1, the Australian Government allocated 228 new transition care places under its $293.2 million plan – to help older Australians recover from a hospital stay and return to their own homes.
This is about older people retaining their independence and getting out of hospital sooner.
The 228 places are expected to benefit up to 1,710 older Australians – in a full year. Each funded place will be used by up to eight (7.5) different older Australians a year.
Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said 186 of 228 places (82 per cent) are now operational in South Australia, Victoria, NSW, Western Australia, the ACT and Queensland.
Transition care can be provided for a maximum of 12 weeks either in the client’s own home or in a home-like environment in a bed-based residential setting.
“Older Australians – after being in hospital – want to return to their homes rather than going to a nursing home prematurely. This is about making sure that older Australians retain their independence and ensuring their quality of life,” Mrs Elliot said.
“We are preparing for the challenges of the 21st century and responding to the needs of Australia’s ageing population,” Mrs Elliot said.
As at 31 October 2008:
- South Australia has made all of its 17 new places operational;
- Victoria has made all of its 68 new places operational;
- The ACT has made all of its two new places operational;
- New South Wales has made 65 of its 69 places operational;
- Western Australia has made all of its 18 new transition care places operational; and
- Queensland has made 16 of its 38 transition care places operational.
From 1 January 2009:
- NSW would make its remaining four new transition care places operational;
- Queensland would make its remaining 22 new places operational;
- Tasmania would make its 10 new places operational; and
- The Northern Territory would make its six new places operational.
By mid-2012, up to 92,500 older Australians would benefit from the Transition Care Program.
Mrs Elliot presented an update to her state and territory counterparts as well as local government representatives at the second Ministerial Conference on Ageing in Melbourne.
“Transition care places are one of this Government’s election commitments. With cooperation from the states and territories, I am pleased to announce phase one is almost complete,” Mrs Elliot said.
In the 2008-09 Federal Budget, the Australian Government committed $293.2 million over four years to the Transition Care Program, providing an extra 2,000 places on top of the existing 2,000 places for older people after a hospital stay.
The new transition care places are fully funded by the Commonwealth.
The transition care places are being rolled out through four allocations - 228 places for 2008-09 and around 400 places for 2009-10, 600 places for 2010-11 and 800 places for 2011-12.
Background Transition Care
Transition care provides a package of services tailored to the person’s needs. This may include a range of low intensity therapy services and nursing support and/or personal care services.
Examples of low intensity therapy services may include:
- Physiotherapy;
- Occupational therapy;
- Dietetics;
- Podiatry; and
- Speech therapy, counselling, and social work.
Examples of personal care services may include assistance with:
- Showering, dressing; eating and eating aids;
- Managing incontinence;
- Transport to appointments; and
- Moving, walking, and communication.
States and territories are the approved providers for the Transition Care Program under the Aged Care Act 1997 which allows them to determine the model of transition care based on local need. This includes determining whether community based or bed-based transition care is required to address local needs.
For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280
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