SA responds to federal aged care shortage with new 'bridging' beds

According to the SA Government, South Australia has the country’s lowest vacancy rate for residential aged care beds, with little change in the total number of federal aged care beds in the last few years — despite growth of the older demographic — meaning that demand for residential aged care placements is outstripping supply.

In fact, the government says that a 161% increase in patients stuck in metropolitan hospitals has been recorded between October 2023 and April 2025, with 241 elderly patients currently stuck in hospital and ready for discharge — but waiting for a federal aged care bed.

Now, following refurbishment works at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, 55 additional beds have been made available. The additional beds are part of a new 70-bed specialised care and bridging service: the Care of the Older Person and Community Transition (CO-ACT) service, which supports older South Australians transitioning out of hospital who are impacted by the current shortage of federal aged care beds.

CO-ACT, the SA Government said, is being introduced under a staged approach with the model of care developed through extensive consultation with clinicians, unions, patients and their families.

Specifically, the SA Government said that the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre comprises 50 beds for eligible older patients “blocked” waiting for federal aged care beds, with 20 beds available for low complexity Memory Support Unit patients. Inclusion of some existing services resulted in the 55 extra beds being added to the health system.

Nursing, allied health, lifestyle programs and 24/7 access to medical staff — including geriatricians and GPs — are part of the multidisciplinary care the centre provides to patients. There are both individual and shared bedrooms, gardens, shared dining and activity rooms, the SA Government said.

“The home-like setting, built around a model of care which comprises a multidisciplinary team, ensures that consumers are receiving holistic care while we support their transition to longer-term arrangements,” Rachael Kay, Acting Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) CEO, said.

“Consumers can access the care they need in a comfortable, fresh space while family and friends work to identify a suitable Commonwealth aged care placement for them.” This specialised Community Brokerage and Placement team, the SA Government said, will assist in planning the discharge to either home or to Commonwealth aged care support.

In its announcement, the SA Government also said it has developed 10 policy proposals for implementation by the Australian Government. Four of these proposals require new funding and six require policy reform.

The SA Government’s proposed initiatives include:

• patients with complex needs due to cognitive impairment receiving new funding;
• capital funding programs being broadened to metropolitan areas;
• the existing respite program being expanded;
• funding models and quality standards being reformed — so private providers are incentivised to support complex patients.
   

More information on the Hampstead CO-ACT service is available here, via the CALHN website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Evrymmnt