ACT benefits from Transition Care Program

More than 230 older Australian Capital Territory (ACT) residents have benefited from the Australian Government’s $293.2 million Transition Care Program since November 2007.

This allows most of them to move from hospitals, back into their own homes instead of prematurely into aged care homes.

Transition care places provide up to 12 weeks of care with a possible extension of six weeks, either in the client’s own home or in a bed-based residential setting following a hospital admission.

Of the 231 older Canberrans, who have used the program:

• 27% received transition care in a bed-based residential setting;
• 40% received care in their own homes; and
• 33% received a mix of both.

The Australian Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot and the ACT Minister for Ageing, Mr John Hargreaves  have released a report on the impact of the Transition Care Program in the ACT.

The Transition Care Program currently operates 37 transition care places in the ACT. Of these, 22 are provided in a community setting and 15 are provided in a bed-based residential setting.

Mrs Elliot has  created four further places for the ACT as part of the second release of 470 places under the four year $293.2 million transition care plan.