Inside the first 14 months of HammondCare's Govt-backed dementia care program

The Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program (HACDSP) has revealed how many older Australians it has helped since launching in January 2025.

From 16 January 2025 to 31 March 2026 the program, which is set to be expanded, has helped 667 people in hospital living with dementia find a place in residential aged care.

Other key HACDSP milestones include:

• Another 244 patients are currently being assessed or waiting transition;
• Of those who have successfully transferred to residential aged care, fewer than 3% have returned to hospital, primarily due to Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia;
• 148 people are currently receiving active support in residential aged care to assist their transition;
• Since its inception, the Program has received 1,108 referrals. Patients not placed are typically transitioned to hospitals outside the Program, were found ineligible, withdrew due to consent issues, or passed away;
• Patients referred to HACDSP spend, on average, about 92 days from hospital admission to placement; and
• 75 staff deliver services under the program, including Dementia Consultants, Dementia Support Coaches, and Family Liaison Officers.

What is HACDSP?

The Federal Government announced $56.8 million over five years for the HACDSP in the 2024-25 Budget to transition long-stay patients living with dementia from hospitals to residential aged care. The Program is funded through the Strengthening Medicare package.

The HACDSP has three objectives: to help in-patients living with dementia optimise their wellbeing during their hospital stay, transitioning patients out of hospital and into an aged care setting, and providing three months of post-discharge support.

The program operates in 11 jurisdictions:

• NSW: John Hunter, Belmont, Maitland and Calvary Mater Hospitals
• SA: all Adelaide public hospitals
• QLD: Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Bundaberg Hospitals
• ACT: Canberra and North Canberra Hospitals
• VIC: Maroondah, Box Hill, Sunshine, Williamstown and Bendigo Hospitals
• WA: Bentley, Osborne Park and Rockingham Hospitals
• TAS: all public hospitals in Hobart, Launceston and the North West

Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler announced at the National Press Club on 22 April the program, which is operated by HammondCare’s Dementia Support Australia, will be expanded.

The announcement was part of a $200 million Government package aimed at supporting people living with dementia – 20 additional Specialist Dementia Care Program Units were also announced.

“I cannot speak more highly of the support”

David Osborn (see main image) is 78 years old and lives with Primary Progressive Aphasia. After more than a month in Box Hill Hospital, 20km east of the Melbourne CBD, the HACDSP has helped David transition to an aged care home in nearby Camberwell.

David has settled in well, getting involved in gardening, maintenance tasks, and Friday afternoon dancing with his wife Judy.

Daughter Sarah Osborn said finding an aged care place for her father was challenging due to his aggressive behaviours and an incident where he left the hospital unaccompanied for five hours, triggering a search.

“The HACDSP team improved his hospital experience, even providing a robotic dog for comfort,” Sarah said. “I cannot speak more highly of the support provided by DSA for my dad.”

“Improving quality of life”

“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,” said HammondCare CEO Andrew Thorburn.

“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.”

HammondCare has made a public commitment to supporting older Australians with complex care needs, such as those with dementia.