A national dementia support initiative helping older hospital patients transition into aged care is showing strong early results, with nearly 700 people successfully relocated and only a small proportion returning to hospital after placement breakdowns.
The Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program (HACDSP), delivered by Dementia Support Australia, has supported 667 patients living with dementia to move from hospital into suitable aged care services during its first 14 months of operation.
The program, funded by the Australian Government and led by HammondCare, recorded a placement failure rate of just 3 per cent, with most returns to hospital linked to Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD).
An additional 244 patients are currently being assessed or awaiting transition, while 148 people continue receiving active support in aged care following discharge.
The figures cover the period from January 16, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
HACDSP operates across 11 jurisdictions nationally and is designed to reduce delayed hospital discharges by supporting people living with dementia during admission, transition into aged care and through three months of post-discharge follow-up.
Andrew Thorburn said the program was making a measurable contribution to reducing hospital bed block and improving outcomes for vulnerable older Australians.
“This program is improving the quality of life of vulnerable people living with dementia who would otherwise become caught up in what is often described as bed block,” Mr Thorburn said.
“Hospitals do the best job they can to care for people living with complex dementia, but they are not the appropriate care setting long-term for people with these health circumstances.”
Mr Thorburn also welcomed Federal Aged Care and Disability Minister Mark Butler’s April announcement expanding the program as part of a $200 million dementia support package, which also included 20 additional Specialist Dementia Care Program units.
The initiative is supported by a workforce of 75 staff, including dementia consultants, dementia support coaches and family liaison officers embedded within participating hospitals.
HammondCare Executive General Manager, Advisory Care & Partnerships, Mark Peacock, thanked the Local Health Districts and hospitals participating in the program for their readiness to work closely with on-site HACDSP team members.
One of the patients assisted through the program was 78-year-old David Osborn, who lives with Primary Progressive Aphasia and transitioned into an aged care home in Melbourne’s Camberwell after spending more than a month in Box Hill Hospital.
His daughter, Sarah Osborn, said the family had struggled to find an aged care placement due to aggressive behaviours and incidents, including her father leaving the hospital unaccompanied for several hours.
“The HACDSP team improved his hospital experience, even providing a robotic dog for comfort,” she said.
“I cannot speak more highly of the support provided by DSA for my dad.”
Since the program began, HACDSP has received 1,108 referrals nationally. Patients not placed through the initiative either transferred to non-participating hospitals, were found clinically ineligible, withdrew consent or died.
On average, patients referred to the program spend around 92 days between hospital admission and aged care placement.
Participating hospitals include facilities in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, including Bentley Hospital, Osborne Park Hospital and Rockingham General Hospital.
Alongside patient support, HACDSP is also working to build dementia care capability among hospital and aged care staff to improve transitions for older people living with dementia.
