Helping older Australians get out of hospital and regain their independence -- transition care: stage two of election commitment

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4 December 2008

The Rudd Labor Government today began the process of allocating the second stage – 400 transition care places for 2009-2010 – of its four-year $293.2 million plan.

This builds on the 228 fully-funded Federal places allocated for 2007-2008, bringing the total of new transition care places to 628 and benefiting up to 4,710 older Australians – in a full year.

Transition care places are about helping older Australians get out of hospital and regain their independence in their own homes. It frees up valuable resources for those needing urgent treatment in state and territory hospitals.

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 to help them regain their independence after a hospital stay and return to their homes.

In the Federal Budget, the Rudd Labor 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.

This complements the previous Government’s 2,000 transition care places which were funded jointly with the States and Territories.

The Rudd Government’s new places are fully funded by the Commonwealth.

Nationally, by mid-2012, when all 4,000 transition care places are fully operational, up to 30,000 older Australians would benefit each year.

Total allocated & operational transition care places - State/Territory as Dec 4, 2008

* 228 of these 2,228 transition care places are part of the first stage of the Rudd Labor Government election commitment – bringing the total to 4,000 by 2011-12.

This week (Thursday, December 4) in Canberra, officers from the Australian Government and the States and Territories health authorities met to determine the exact distribution of the 400 transition care places for 2009-2010.

The Transition Care Working Group develops the key parameters of the transition care program, including eligibility, funding, quality and data collection and implementation.

The next 400 places will be allocated by March 30, 2009 and they are expected to begin operating from July 1, 2009 – in line with the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) Implementation Plan.

“Older Australians – after a hospital procedure – want to return to their homes rather than staying in hospital or going into a nursing hostel prematurely,” the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot said.

As of December 4, the Australian Government has allocated all 228 new fully-funded transition care places with 202 in operation in every State and Territory. All 228 are expected to be operational by January 1, 2009.

Each funded place will be used by up to eight (7.5) different older Australians a year.

Mrs Elliot said Australia has one of the longest life expectancies of any country in the world, for both men and women.

The Australian Government is working closely with the State and Territory Governments to provide extra transition care places to help older people make a smooth transition from hospital back to their homes or into residential care.

Transition Care - background

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 service 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 and eating;
• Managing incontinence;
• Transport to appointments; and
• Moving, eating and communication.

State and Territories are the approved providers for the transition care program under the Aged Care Act, 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 Minister Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280

 

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