A further 60 places for the Transition Care Program have been jointly announced by the Australian Government Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, and the Western Australian State Minister for Health, Jim McGinty.
Transition care is a new model of care for older people after a hospital stay. It is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the state and territory governments.
Senator Santoro said the new places would become operational as local services were developed. The additional places increase those available for the Transition Care Program in WA from 100 places to 160 places.
?Transition care provides support and therapies to help older Australians to become confident enough to return home where possible, with the support of in-home care if necessary. It also gives older people and their families time to make long-term care arrangements,? Senator Santoro said.
?This new allocation of transition care places will help an even greater number of older people in Western Australia to return home after a hospital stay and avoid premature admission to residential aged care.
?The Australian Government announced its intention to establish 2,000 new transition care places nationally over three years after pilot programs showed that such care can improve the quality of life and independence of many older people who have been hospitalised.
?I am very pleased with the collaborative work carried out by the Australian Government and the Western Australian Government to develop and implement the Transition Care Program, which will be of significant benefit to many older people.?
Mr McGinty said the program would give older people in Western Australia an opportunity to improve, recover or regain their functional capacity after an illness, injury or operation.
?This innovation will broaden the choices available to older people in Western Australia. The therapeutic care offered as one of its multiple services will help older people return home in better health and with greater independence,? he said.