Looking after our older community members

22 February 2010

Older community members in the Tablelands Cluster are benefitting from a new service being offered by Armidale Community Health Centre.

The Transitional Aged Care Program (TACP) aims to support older people following an admission to hospital, by improving their independence and confidence with daily living skills.

TACP Co-ordinator Wendy Colley said the program provides time-limited and therapy-focused care for clients, and is delivered in the comfort of their own home.

“Support can be provided for a period of up to 12 weeks and provides a range of low intensity therapy from the program’s Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist as well as Nursing support,” Ms Colley said.

“It includes assistance with personal care as well as domestic services, and is provided with the intent of maintaining, and where possible improving physical and cognitive functioning, in order to improve daily living.”

Armidale local, Mrs Clare Bourke, has been accessing the TACP support services for a number of weeks, after a short stay in hospital.

She said the support and assistance she has received from the program’s team of health professionals has been “wonderful”.

To be eligible for the Transitional Aged Care Program, the older person must be an inpatient of a hospital and have been assessed and approved by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

The program also focuses on preventing premature or inappropriate admissions to permanent residential aged care; this is done by providing access through time-limited support services and low intensity therapy for older clients who require extra support following admission to hospital. 

For more details about the Transitional Aged Care Program, contact Armidale Community Health Centre on (02) 6776 9600.

 
Photo available: A photograph of the Armidale TAC team, with client Mrs Bourke, is available on request.

(HNE-2174)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: 6767 7135