For older people who are in the hospital but no longer needing acute care, the recovery journey can take time, and the next steps on the ageing journey may be unclear.
Hospitals, usually designed for acute care, are often not suitable for extended recovery and rehabilitation – and there is pressure on the staff to free up beds. With all of that in mind, the Australian and WA governments continue to fund and deliver the Transition Care Program where people are able to receive care for the short-term (generally up to 12 weeks), allowing them time to recover, to develop self-care capabilities, to work out the next steps, and to make arrangements for the future.
Curtin’s Lived Experience Team (part of Unheard Consumer Research) has been talking to people in Transition Care (TC) and their families to uncover the experience and the impact of the program. The study has demonstrated strengths and weaknesses in the program as people progress through their TC jouney:
- Considering entering TC.
- Leaving hospital and entering TC.
- Residing in TC.
- Exploring, decising and preparing for life after TC.
- Transitioning out of TC.
Read more about this in our Transition Care Briefing Paper.
The findings show that the experience of the service is generally positive for the TC residents and their loved ones, but does reveal some opportunities to improve. The benefits of being able to rehabilitate, learn new self-care skills, and take time to find a path forward are substantial.
The Australian and WA governments jointly provide this program and are likely to fund it (and/or the similar Pilot Respite Program) moving forward. However, there are opportunities to make the impact of the service clear and to streamline the experience of the service. The impact of this service seems to far outweigh the cost of provision but it would be good to explore and understand the areas of most impact and therefore how to improve impact overall.
Transition care is a Federal program that is facilitated by the state governments. Access it via MyAgedCare.
What do you think?
- Have you or a loved one experienced Transition Care?
- We’d love to hear your thoughts on what worked and what could be improved?
- Share your thoughts on how services like Transition Care can make a difference
Disclaimer
The information and insights presented in this article are provided for general informational purposes only. They reflect the views of the author(s) at the time of writing and should not be relied upon as professional or other expert advice. Readers are encouraged to seek independent, qualified assistance before making any decisions or taking action based on this material.
1 thought on “A place to rehabilitate, and to work out the next steps: The Transition Care Program in WA”
This is one of the clearest explanations I’ve seen. Thanks!