Our hospital to home transition service aids your recovery
by KinCare — 17 February 2021
When our Customer, Catherine, was discharged from hospital after major surgery, she was worried about returning home without anyone to help care for her. Connecting with KinCare’s hospital to home transition service through the hospital discharge planner gave Catherine access to the care and support she needed at home to regain her confidence and independence.
“I’ve always been a very independent person, who is very capable of looking after myself and other people. Now the shoe was on the other foot,” Catherine explains.
“I had just had a hip replacement, but I was in a CAM (Controlled Ankle Motion) boot for other problems. Because of the hip, I couldn’t bend down to put the boot on and off, so I was totally reliant on someone to come each morning to help me get around. And because it’s my right foot, I also couldn’t drive,” she says.
Through the short-term hospital to home transition service, KinCare was able to provide Catherine with one hour of personal care a day, plus additional support to take her to and from medical appointments. The services and support made a world of the difference to Catherine’s recovery at home.
“Catherine was feeling quite depressed when she was in hospital and fearful of how she was going to manage at home without any extra supports,” says Deb Fraser, KinCare Central Home Care Package and Health Manager.
“Our team worked very closely with Emma, Catherine’s Customer Care Manager, to ensure someone was visiting her each day to help with showering. They were also able to identify small wins where Catherine was more independent. Now her confidence is starting to build up. She is improving in her mobility and becoming more independent.”
If you're waiting for your Home Support Package, we can help
If you're waiting for your Home Care Package to be approved but need support now, we can help. Our home care services can be purchased privately and we can also help you apply for interim funding through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
Catherine says the extra help from KinCare helped her recover more quickly following her surgery.
“I’ve got a lot better with the help. It’s still an ongoing process, but I’m getting there. I’m feeling better within myself, coping well and getting my social life back. A few months ago, I didn’t know how I was going to cope,” she says.
Deb says support and services provided through hospital avoidance programs, such as the hospital to home transition service, can mean the difference between a hospital re-admission or regaining confidence and independence.
“Hospital avoidance programs are so important because of the benefit they give not only for the patients, but also the hospital. The patient has that sense that they are going home where they feel safe and secure,” Deb says.
“If avoidance programs aren’t in place, re-hospitalisations often occur. Not eating nutritionally balanced foods and missing medications are the number one reasons people are quickly readmitted to hospital after discharge if services aren’t set up correctly.”
In addition to the hospital to home transition service, KinCare also provides care coordinated services for people at risk of hospitalisation who may not know how to access at-home supports or who have chronic or complex health conditions that require more support.
If you live in the Northern Sydney local government areas of Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Mosman, Northern Beaches, North Sydney, Ryde, and Willoughby, you may be eligible to access KinCare’s hospital to home transition service or care coordinated service. These are delivered through the Northern Sydney Primary Health Network.
Contact KinCare on 1300 689 741 or email [email protected] today to find out more about how we can support you or a loved one after a hospital stay, or if your loved one may require hospitalisation in the future.