Department of Health

Key messages

  • Short-term supports are for people who have been assessed as requiring short-term, community-based supports to help them recuperate.
  • Short-term supports are available for people being discharged from a public hospital.
  • Health services’ short-term supports include community nursing, personal care and home care.

Short-term supports facilitate a safe and timely discharge from hospital. The person returns home with an appropriate package of community-based supports. They are also linked up with ongoing long-term supports in the community, as required.

Eligibility for short-term supports

People being discharged from a public hospital (including emergency departments, acute services and subacute services) can access short-term supports. They need to be assessed as requiring short-term, community-based help to assist them to recuperate in the community, and to ensure a safe and timely discharge.

Services offered by short-term supports

Short-term supports include a range of community-based services according to the person's individually assessed needs. The most common services provided are:

  • community nursing
  • personal care
  • home care.

Services arranged are provided for the duration of the recuperative period and are generally of a short-term nature.

Directory

The directory of short-term supports shows which service has responsibility for service delivery to residents of particular areas.

Referrals and enquiries

Reviewed 02 October 2024

Health.vic

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