About the STRC Programme
The STRC Programme aims to reverse or slow functional decline so that older people can delay or avoid long-term care.
Functional decline is when a person struggles with day-to-day activities, like:
- bathing
- dressing
- eating
- shopping
- driving.
The STRC Programme provides tailored support services for up to 8 weeks (56 days) in a person’s home, an aged care home, or both.
Clients can get this episode of support twice each year.
If you are an older person, read more about eligibility, services and costs on the My Aged Care website.
Why it is important
Older people want to live in their own home as they age. The STRC Programme helps older people achieve this, by:
- helping them complete daily tasks
- improving their health and wellbeing
- working to improve their physical function
- avoiding long-term or higher levels of care.
Eligibility
To be eligible, a person must be:
- at risk of losing their independence
- able to improve their independence with STRC Programme support
- assessed and approved for STRC by an Aged Care Assessor, which can be organised by contacting My Aged Care.
There is no age limit.
Older people receiving National Disability Insurance Scheme services may also be eligible for STRC services.
People are not eligible if they:
- are in (or on leave from) permanent residential aged care
- are receiving home care through a Home Care Package
- are receiving transition care or have received it in the previous 6 months
- have been in hospital in the previous 3 months for a condition related to their STRC needs
- are receiving end-of-life care
- have received 8 weeks of STRC twice in the previous 12 months.
Read more about eligibility for STRC and other aged care services.
Services provided
STRC services are tailored for each person and can involve various health professionals. Support might include:
- occupational therapy
- physiotherapy
- nursing support
- personal care
- technologies to help with day-to-day activities
- minor home modifications.
Clients must agree to their STRC services in the care plan, as part of their flexible care agreement.
Read more about STRC services in chapter 3.2 of the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme Manual.
STRC and other aged care services
Commonwealth Home Support Programme
A person can get support from both the STRC Programme and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), as long as services are different and complement each other.
The STRC service provider must liaise with the client’s CHSP service provider to coordinate services.
Transition care
Older people cannot access STRC services if they are accessing or have accessed transition care in the previous 6 months.
This ensures clients can meet the goals of transition care so that they can enter or continue the program that best suits their needs.
Residential aged care
Residential aged care residents can’t access STRC services, but approved providers can deliver STRC services in a residential aged care setting.
The location of delivery and the allocation of a place are different under Section 14-5 of the Aged Care Act 1997. This prevents an approved provider from claiming residential care subsidy and STRC subsidy for the same person at the same time.
Home Care Package
Older people cannot access STRC services if they access a Home Care Package, but they can exit the STRC Programme early to accept a Home Care Package.
The STRC provider must be made aware of the decision to exit the program before signing the Home Care Package agreement.
In these cases, the ongoing care plan must include strategies to help the older person meet their goals after exiting.
Cost of STRC services
Under certain conditions, approved STRC providers can charge client fees, calculated for each day the client receives care.
The approved provider and client must agree to the care fees in the flexible care agreement.
Find out more about fees and charges for the STRC Programme.
Who provides STRC Programme services
Approved providers manage day-to-day care coordination of STRC.
Multidisciplinary teams deliver STRC services using multidisciplinary care. These teams might comprise:
- general practitioners (GPs) and geriatricians
- allied health professionals
- community health workers
- other specialists.
Who oversees the program
Together with Services Australia, we:
- subsidise and allocate STRC places
- approve applications for providers to deliver support
- manage and develop policy for STRC under the Aged Care Act 1997.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission:
- ensures providers meet quality standards
- handles any complaints about services provided under the STRC Programme.
Contact
