Focus on Allied Health: Social Work
What is the difference between respite, rehabilitation, and permanent care? A question often asked by multidisciplinary teams. Respite is often requested as a discharge plan that carries loads of negative consequences to our patients, families and our hospital. It is a temporary stay in an aged care facility which patients will need to fund themselves. All too often our patients require a comprehensive plan including follow up appointments, medication management, rehabilitation and long-term care arrangements. Respite does not provide structured support needed for a smooth transition. During respite patients will get help with activities of daily living, social support, hot meals, medication management, GP visits and nursing care. It is like applying a band aid to a sprained ankle – not quite the solution we hope for patients with chronic and deteriorating health conditions.
Permanent care in aged care facility is designed to promote comfort and quality of life while meeting long-term needs. It provides security of care for as long as patients reside at their chosen aged care facility. But it is a room with a price tag that your patient will need to pay for and agreed to! Be mindful that there is a shortage of nursing home beds, respite further decreases the number of permanent beds available as facilities convert permanent beds to respite beds. What a conundrum! So where is rehab in all of this? In an aged care facility, they call it ‘therapy’, I call it ‘gossip hour’. Therapy is very limited to diversional support, emotional wellbeing with potentially exercise group running once a week aiming the physical needs. It is very much affected by staffing and resources mainly aimed at providing care. If your patients need rehabilitation, long term care or increased in home supports, respite is not the solution. To avoid the frequent flyer program often embraced by our patient through readmission please speak to your ward social worker.
Ward/Coverage
Pager
Ward/Coverage
Pager
Emergency Department
54608
CCU/ICU
54673
Ward 5
54624
Palliative Care
54618 weds only
Ward 6/Peri-Op Pre Admission
54583
Graythwaite
Ext 87148, 87137, 87130
Ward 7
54673
CAReS
Ext 87424
Ward 8
54583
Lastly, Our Social Work team: Kasia, Jo, Tim, Sarina, Jannette, Siobhan, Tracey, Gale, Jelena, Daniel and Mark are the ‘discharge wizards’, ‘master care coordinators’ and ‘counsellors galore’ who have a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience. So, while you take care of the ‘boo-boos’ we will take care of the ‘boo-hoos’ with an ‘iron clad plan’!
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