Last year, Ability WA partnered with the WA State Government to support hospital patients living with disability to transition into appropriate accommodation with high-quality disability supports.

The Hospital to home program utilises Ability WA’s Bradford Views Transition Villa, a purpose built and fully accessible residence staffed by a team of nurses, therapists and residential care workers.

The Hospital to home program supported its first program participant to exit the program in January this year following a 79 day stay. So far, the interim care program has successfully supported seven people, freeing up acute public hospital beds and ensuring people with disability can be supported to discharge from hospital to focus on achieving their goals in more appropriate longer term accommodation.

Program Manager Karen North says that the initiative is already seeing fantastic results.

“Lots of positive transformation and friendships have been developed already! There were many tears of joy amongst both staff and fellow customers as our first customer moved out of our program’ Karen said.

Customers are enjoying the many activities on offer, designed to build their capacity and assist their participation in community and social activities, such as trips to the beach with fish and chips, or playing cards and Scrabble together.

“I felt very welcomed when I arrived. I was shown my room and I felt very happy and such a sense of relief. When staff cut off my hospital arm band I felt all such a sense of relief. I dreamed all the bad experiences (hospital) floated away.” Said a customer on discharge from the Program.

“All the staff were very welcoming, caring and supportive.  The staff became more like friends, they were always so willing to help me. I enjoyed making new friends and listening to other experiences.

‘I loved being able to play music again (Christmas Carols), especially when I was sitting outside and clients came past. I could see them being happy, I could see they connected.

I can’t find any faults with this place. I have been very happy here.”

Funded by the WA State Government, the Program will continue until September 2023 as part of measures to free up acute hospital beds across the State’s public hospital system.