After your assessment, your assessor will contact you on your eligibility while you are still admitted to hospital. It’s important to know that being approved for transition care does not guarantee a place in the program.

You will also receive a letter which will contain:

  • the assessment team’s decision on whether you are eligible
  • the services you are eligible to receive
  • the reasons and evidence supporting the decision
  • a copy of your support plan developed during your assessment
  • referral codes for services if you discussed this referral method with your assessor.

If you don’t receive a letter explaining your assessment decision, contact your assessor and ask for a copy.

I’m eligible - what’s next?

Once you receive your approval letter, the next step is to find a suitable aged care provider.

There are two ways to do this:

  1. Your assessor can make a referral for you
    They can refer you to services that are both available and appropriate for your needs. Once your assessor has made a referral, they will contact you. With your consent, they will arrange for you to leave hospital and enter the transition care facility.
     
  2. You can refer yourself
    Depending on your location and availability, you may have some choice in providers. If you’d like to refer yourself, you will need the referral code in your approval letter. You can find local providers by using the Find a provider tool or by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422  for guidance. See more information about referral codes below.

    At times, there may not be an immediate vacancy, but places can become available at short notice.

What is a referral code and why do I need it?

Your assessor may arrange your referral with the transition care provider or issue you with a referral code. A referral code is your unique reference number for receiving services. You give the referral code to your chosen provider. If you lose your code, you can log in to your My Aged Care Online Account to see it. With the code, a provider can view your client record, accept the referral, and start organising services for you.

When will I start receiving services?

Once you find a provider that offers the services you need, you will move into care after being discharged from hospital.

When you need to begin care depends on your living arrangements:

  • If you receive care in an aged care home, you must begin transition care within 24 hours of discharge.
  • If your care is to be delivered in your home, you have 48 hours from your date of discharge to enter care.

Can I delay my transition care services?

You should only delay starting your care if:

  • your health service provider is confident of your safe discharge, and
  • you have adequate support in place while you wait for your care to begin.

Remember, there may not be an immediate vacancy, and your approval is valid for 28 days. If you are still in hospital and waiting for a place to become available after 28 days, you will need to be reassessed.

Do I have to accept the provider, or the services offered?

No. Contacting or being referred to a provider doesn’t mean you have to agree to their services. You can talk with them, ask questions, and make sure you’re comfortable first. Once you’re ready, you can agree to their services. Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessors are encouraged to work closely with providers to support a smooth referral process and find successful matches.

Keep track of what you need to do

The My guide to aged care tool will help create a ‘next steps’ checklist tailored for you.

I’m not eligible – what now?

If you aren’t eligible for transition care, you will receive a letter from your assessor that will tell you why.

There are other options available.

If you have any questions about the assessment process, including the assessment team’s decision, there are actions you can take:

  • Discuss your concerns with your assessor. This is usually the best way to resolve any issues. You can have a friend or relative help with this if you wish.
  • Request a review of the decision, free of charge. Information about how to do this will be included in your letter. You can also find out more information on the Contact us page.
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