The STRAS unit at Belmont Hospital – what is it?

The Short Term Residential Accommodation Service (STRAS) unit at Belmont Hospital is there to support non-acute patients transitioning from the hospital environment into residential aged care.

This may occur in instances such as when a loved one has a fall requiring hospitalisation. After recovering, if they are deemed unable to look after themselves at home independently or with the help of a home care service, the next step is often to consider residential aged care.

How are people admitted to the STRAS unit?

Once your loved one has been assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team – ACAT*, and it has been agreed that they require full-time care, it is time to look at your options: private nursing care or residential aged care.

If the hospital is ready to discharge but private nursing care or an appropriate spot has not been found in residential care, they will be transported to the STRAS unit as an interim measure.

What happens in the STRAS unit?

Patients and their families will be assigned a social worker at the STRAS to explain the process.

Families are required to provide their social worker with the names of six preferred facilities they would like their loved one to move into when a spot becomes available, and the social worker will assist in facilitating this.

Usually you do not have to accept the first residential aged care spot that becomes available if it is not the number one facility on your list. You can refuse the first two spots offered but are required to accept the third.

The social worker will often provide the Department of Human Services income and assets form to the family to complete in readiness for the transfer to a facility.

Patients are only moved out of the STRAS unit if medically stable.

*See our earlier detailed blog about ACAT assessments.

Who can help us navigate the next steps?

It is important to remember that there are medical decisions to be made when moving into residential aged care, but there are substantial financial implications of each decision as well.  

Advice from an accredited financial adviser is best sought before accepting a position in residential aged care as strategies can often be put in place to minimise upfront and/or ongoing fees.

Our team of aged care specialists are here to help

Navigating entering Residential Aged Care yourself or assisting a loved one can be an emotionally charged, overwhelming and complex time so it is important to find the right person to guide you through the process.

To ensure you are equipped with an understanding of the fees and costs relating to Residential Aged Care, get in touch with the Rethink Aged Care team for our personalised service to assist you in determining your care needs. Contact us on 4962 4440.