What more than 100 older people have taught us about delayed hospital discharge
For two years, volunteers from the Support Transition Assistance Response Service (STARS) have been helping in hospitals. Here's what they've learned, writes Community Industry Group CEO Nicky Sloan
As we are by now all aware, across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, more than 100 older people are in hospital on any given day despite being medically ready to leave. Their discharge is delayed because they are waiting for a residential aged care placement or the in-home support services need to keep them safe and supported at home.
For the past two years, a group of dedicated aged care experts have worked with many of these older people and their families through the STARS volunteer program. Our volunteers have had the privilege of spending time with many of these older people and their families. Their stories remind us that delayed discharge is not simply a health system challenge. It is a human one.
For some, the pathway forward is particularly complex. Questions about a person's capacity to make significant decisions can require involvement with the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. During these difficult periods, hospital social workers play a critical role, helping older people and families navigate unfamiliar legal and care systems with compassion and dignity, and our volunteers work alongside these dedicated professionals to offer ongoing support.
What we hear is remarkably consistent.
Most older people are not refusing to leave hospital. Rather, they are concerned about what comes next. After a serious illness or health event, they are often being asked to make life-changing decisions at a time when they are still recovering, vulnerable and uncertain.
Many tell us they simply do not understand the aged care system. Hospital can be their first encounter with assessments, waiting lists, packages and residential care options. Navigating this maze while coping with illness can be overwhelming.
We also learn that home is about much more than bricks and mortar. People worry about their partners, beloved pets, treasured possessions, neighbours and the communities that have shaped their lives. These concerns are not peripheral; they are central to a person's sense of identity, security and wellbeing.
The most important lesson is a simple one: listen before you solve.
When we take time to understand what matters most to people, fears can be reduced and confidence restored. Better decisions follow.
For all of the many wonderful people working in the health sector and the aged care sector, delayed discharge is not just about finding a bed or arranging a service. It is about supporting older people through one of life's most significant transitions with empathy, respect and care. If we start by listening, we are far more likely to find solutions that truly meet their needs.
Unfortunately, the funding for the STARS volunteer program ends at the end of September. We are actively seeking alternative sources to keep this vital compassionate service working with vulnerable older people and their families.
Read more
Meet two STARS helping to ease bed block in the Illawarra
About the writer
Nicky Sloan is the CEO of Community Industry Group, with extensive experience in community services, local government, marketing, tertiary education, finance, and small business ownership. In addition to her busy role, she serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of aged care provider, Warrigal, and is Deputy Chair of Regional Development Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven. Nicky holds degrees in Dementia Care, Community and Environment, Marketing, and Project Management, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wollongong.
