Supporting a smooth transition from hospital to aged care
The Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program (HACDSP) supports older people in 11 eligible jurisdictions, who are at risk of delayed hospital discharge due to their dementia. If you're a healthcare professional, check the eligibility requirements below.
Who is eligible for the HACDSP program?
A person is eligible for the Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program (HACDSP) if:
- they are an inpatient in an acute/sub-acute public hospital setting in an agreed site as described below under heading Eligible Locations and Participating Sites.
- they have dementia (diagnosed with dementia or suspected dementia/diagnosis not confirmed or have a history of progressive cognitive decline).
- they are age 65 and over, or age 50 and over and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person, or otherwise eligible to receive Commonwealth funded aged care services.
- they have a current Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment and are eligible to receive Commonwealth funded aged care services.
- they agree to receive DSA services, and there is current valid consent to participation in the HACDSP.
Referral Process Step-Through
Step 1Referral
Step 1: Referral
- Referrals are made by the hospital staff in eligible locations and participating sites. The process is easy and straightforward.
- Click below to make a referral:
Step 2Initial review
Step 2: Initial review
- Upon receipt of the referral, DSA will schedule a phone consultation to determine eligibility or suggest other pathways.
Step 3Assessment
Step 3: Assessment
- Following the initial phone consultation a DSA consultant will then schedule a comprehensive face-to-face assessment to determine the care needs of the person living with dementia.
- From this assessment the DSA consultant will create a comprehensive report to aid the transition back home or into residential care.
Step 4Transition
Step 4: Transition
-
After the Assessment, the HACDSP team will partner with the hospital to provide ongoing behaviour support and advice.
- The HACDSP team can provide the assessment and support information to aged care providers as part of the discharge planning process.
- They will then work with hospital staff, the person living with dementia, their family and the aged care provider to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible.
Step 5Support
Step 5: Support
- The HACDSP team will then prepare for and provide support during the transition. This will be a highly personalised service with individual advice, strategies and written recommendations for each person referred to the service.
Step 1: Referral
- Referrals are made by the hospital staff in eligible locations and participating sites. The process is easy and straightforward.
- Click below to make a referral:
Step 2: Initial review
- Upon receipt of the referral, DSA will schedule a phone consultation to determine eligibility or suggest other pathways.
Step 3: Assessment
- Following the initial phone consultation a DSA consultant will then schedule a comprehensive face-to-face assessment to determine the care needs of the person living with dementia.
- From this assessment the DSA consultant will create a comprehensive report to aid the transition back home or into residential care.
Step 4: Transition
-
After the Assessment, the HACDSP team will partner with the hospital to provide ongoing behaviour support and advice.
- The HACDSP team can provide the assessment and support information to aged care providers as part of the discharge planning process.
- They will then work with hospital staff, the person living with dementia, their family and the aged care provider to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible.
Step 5: Support
- The HACDSP team will then prepare for and provide support during the transition. This will be a highly personalised service with individual advice, strategies and written recommendations for each person referred to the service.
