Transition Care Program (TCP)
What is the Transition Care Program?
The Transition Care Program (TCP) offers short-term care (up to 12 weeks) for older people to regain health and mobility after a hospital stay. Patients who go into the TCP are well enough to leave the hospital but still need assistance with daily living.
Assistance can include services such as nursing care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work, and dietary advice, though not at the same level as the person would receive in hospital.
Potential TCP clients can decide if they wish to be referred for the TCP and can then make an informed choice about transition care services available to them. Suitable vacancies are allocated by the Aged Care Hub, and governed by the following WA Department of Health policy, ensuring that:
- ‘Patients, their families and/or carers are counselled that they are expected to accept the first allocated vacancy, with preference given to a TCP provider within their preferred area’.
- For patients awaiting aged residential care, they are ‘registered at a minimum of three facilities…and are expected to accept the first available vacancy’.
Are you ready to leave hospital?
TCP services take place in either a residential or a community setting, including your home. A number of care options are available, designed to be flexible in helping meet each person's needs.
Services may include:
- case management, including establishing community support and services and, where required, identifying residential care options
- medical services provided by a GP
- low intensity therapy such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy
- emotional support and future care planning via a social worker
- nursing support
- personal care
- domestic help
- other therapies as required.
The aim of these services is to maintain or improve your physical and mental functioning, as well as help you manage your tasks of daily living.
Who is eligible?
The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) Aged Care Assessment Team approves the patient’s entry into TCP and social workers discuss placement options with clients.
What does the TCP cost?
The TCP is funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments. Patients are expected to contribute to their care and a daily fee applies. If the patient genuinely cannot pay, the TCP Provider may agree to reduce the client’s fee, and no one is denied a service if they cannot afford to contribute.
For TCP in an aged care home, the maximum cost to the client is 85 per cent of the basic daily rate of the single age pension.
For TCP at home, the maximum cost to the client is 17.5 per cent of the basic daily rate of the single age pension.
The client will be asked to sign an agreement with the Provider upon admission. This agreement sets out associated costs payable. Please discuss all options with your patient.
No one will be denied a service if they cannot afford to contribute.
Resources
TCP in an aged care home
TCP at home
Contact us
Clients are encouraged to contact the Transition Care Service provider (Facility Manager) concerned to lodge a complaint or provide feedback if they felt unhappy with their transition care service experience.
The hospital’s own complaints process can be followed where there are concerns about care received as an inpatient or regarding transfer to transition care services.
If the matter is not resolved by the above steps, please contact:
- The WA Department of Health via the Transition Care Program email at TCP@health.wa.gov.au; or
- The WA Government Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) to discuss options or request a complaint form on (08) 6551 7600 or 1800 813 583; or
- The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 or email at www.agedcarequality.gov.au (external site)
Last reviewed: 05-09-2024
Acknowledgements
Aged and Continuing Care Directorate
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.