Transition Care Program and respite care
Transition Care Program
No one wants to stay in hospital longer than they have to but sometimes we need a little more care. If you are older or have an age-related condition, our Transition Care Program* can support you for up to 12 weeks when you leave hospital. The program allows you to continue your recovery while planning your long-term care, either in a residential aged care home, or in your own home.
The discharge team will organise an Aged Care Assessment before you leave hospital. They will work out your options and will create a care plan with you that can adapt as your needs change.
While on the program, you will have a dedicated care partner who will work with you to plan the next stage of your care, which will depend on your needs and where you receive your care. This could be in your home or in a bed-based care setting, such as a residential aged care home.
Whether you need health or personal support, your care partner will help you to navigate the system and connect with the services you need. We can support you with:
- Health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers
- Personal care (e.g. showering and dressing)
- Housekeeping and help around your home
- Shopping
- Meals
- Equipment to make life easier
- Management of appointments and travel to appointments
- In–home respite care.
Program costs
The majority of the costs of the TCP are covered by the subsidy provided to Victorian health services by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments. However, the Commonwealth Government also requires a daily care fee contribution from people who are able to pay.
The maximum fees are calculated based on the basic single aged pension and are adjusted twice yearly (20 March and 20 September):
- Community clients: 17.5 per cent which equates to a daily rate
- Residential clients: 85 per cent which equates to a daily rate.
* A daily fee for the Transition Care Program is charged by the Commonwealth Government and there is also a cost for your medication.
Respite care
Respite care depends on your situation: it can be for a few hours, a few days, or longer. It can be provided in your home, in the community or in an aged care home.
Respite care is often planned in advance, for example, if your carer is planning a trip or has an appointment to attend. There is information on the My Aged Care website about the different types of respite care available.
In-home or community-based respite
Respite benefits the carer by providing supervision and assistance to the care recipient. The carer may or may not be present and can include:
- Care in your home, which is a daytime support service delivered in the carer’s or the client’s home
- Care outside your home such as:
- Community access: one-on-one structured activities to provide a social experience for the care recipient to develop, maintain or support independent living and social interaction
- Centre-based respite: day respite which often runs from 10am to 3pm and may include transport to and from the centre
- Cottage respite: available overnight or weekends
Residential respite
Residential respite care is designed to give a carer or care recipient a short-term break from their usual care arrangement. A respite care approval entitles the person to a maximum of 63 days of respite care in a financial year, however extensions of up to 21 days may be granted.
To be eligible for residential respite care, a person must meet the eligibility criteria for residential care:
- The person has physical, medical, social or psychological needs that require the provision of care; and
- Those needs can be met through residential care services.
Emergency respite
This type of respite is available if your carer is unexpectedly unable to care for you and you do not have an existing respite approval in place. Situations where emergency respite care might be needed include:
- Death of a primary carer
- Major illness of a primary carer
- An urgent situation that makes it difficult for your carer to look after you.
If you need emergency respite care in your home or in the community, the Carer Gateway website provides information about options, or you can contact Carer Gateway directly on 1800 422 737.
How to access aged care services through Monash Health
The pathway for accessing all government funded aged care services is through My Aged Care. You can contact My Aged Care via the website or by calling 1800 200 422 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm).
When you call My Aged Care, they will discuss your needs over the phone and arrange for someone to visit you for a face-to-face assessment, to determine the type of care you are eligible for. They will also advise if you need to have a financial assessment.
If you speak a language other than English, please call 131 450 to access My Aged Care interpreter services.
If you are struggling with the My Aged Care process, Monash Health’s expert care partners can help. Please call us on (03) 9792 7747 or email agedliving@monashhealth.org and let us support you through the process.
The Aboriginal Health team can assist in accessing allied health and nursing services within Monash Health, with linkages to other culturally safe aged care health services, culturally safe information and support for palliative care. You can contact the team on (03) 9792 7948 or via email aboriginalhealth@monashhealth.org.