Prepare to Care Hospital Program
The “Prepare to Care” Hospital Program provides information and support to those family members and friends who will be providing ongoing care to patients both during a hospital admission and following being discharged from hospital.
Carers WA understand that when a patient is discharged from hospital their family members or friends may play an enormous role in their life and ongoing care.
The ‘Prepare to Care’ Hospital Program provides information relevant to family carers both during and after a hospital stay including support services which may be of assistance following discharge from hospital. The program is funded by Home and Community Care (HACC).
Research has shown (Gray 2003; Keeley & Clark 2003; O’Hara 2001) that hospital admissions represent a critical time in the care giving experience. The amount of information shared with the carer, the degree of choice about taking on caring responsibilities and the level of planning and services are important factors in helping carers to prepare for their role. Whilst the medical, nursing and allied health hospital staff intention is to incorporate families in decision making there are many reasons why carers may fall through the gaps in being identified and supported.
The Prepare to Care program aims to provide hospital staff with resources to provide carers with more information, a better understanding of the requirements of care and linking of the carer to relevant services to contact, including Carers WA. The result is that the carer is better prepared for their caring role with the aim of reducing carer stress and burnout and reduced rates of re-admission of the person they care for.
In consultation with carers, Carers WA has developed a ‘Prepare to Care’ resource pack containing a place to record information provided by hospital staff, a health and medication diary, plus information on support services for the family carer. Carers WA provide education and support to hospital staff in identification and support of family carers. This assists the Department of Health and all Public Hospitals to comply with the Carers Recognition Act (2004) WA and the Carers Charter; for more information on this please go to http://www.communities.wa.gov.au/serviceareas/carers
This highly successful program is currently operating in selected areas across WA, incuding;
South Metropolitan Area Health Service: Royal Perth, Fremantle, Bentley, Armadale, Murray and Rockingham
North Metropolitan Area Health Service: Sir Charles Gairdner, Joondalup, Swan District, Kalamunda, Osborne Park and King Edward Memorial Hospital
WA Country Health Service: Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany and the Great Southern Region Hospitals including Katanning, Denmark, Gnowangerup, Kojonup and Mt Barker.
Child and Adolescent Health Service: Princess Margaret Hospital has their own LINC carer support program; for more information please call the LINC coordinator on (08) 9340 7198 Monday to Friday (8.30am to 4.30pm).
The ‘Prepare to Care’ Hospital Program provides information for:
For more information
Contact Carers WA on 1300 CARERS (1300 227 377) for your FREE ‘Prepare to Care’ Support pack or to speak with one of our Hospital Program team members.