The McGowan Government has welcomed Federal Government funding of up to $33.75 million to provide older Western Australians with access to vital transition services following a hospital stay.
The funding was secured by the McGowan Government following ongoing negotiations to secure more transition care places. The State Government will provide up to $23.45 million to co-fund this initiative.
TCP places provide a package of services for older Western Australians after a hospital stay, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy, social work, nursing support and personal care. The transition care program offers up to 12 weeks' care, delivered either in a person's home or in a residential care setting.
The additional TCP places will help to keep frail, older Western Australians safer by reducing the time they spend in hospital awaiting Commonwealth aged care services.
Western Australia has been allocated the funding by the Federal Government to fund 60 permanent and 120 time limited TCP places over the next four years.
Transition Care Program places are jointly funded by the Federal and State and Territory governments.
WA Health will work with the Commonwealth and with aged care service providers to deliver the additional places, which will help many older Western Australians to stay in their own homes or access to important services while awaiting residential aged care.
The State Government is continuing to work with the Commonwealth to ensure that older Western Australians needing care can receive services that reflect and address their care needs in a timely way.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"It is critical that older people have appropriate access to care following their hospital stay.
"These additional transitional care places will allow more people to achieve improved care outcomes following discharge from hospital.
"I look forward to continuing to work with the Commonwealth to ensure that we can provide the highest quality aged care services and so that all older Western Australians can access the services they need."
