An AHPRA-registered OT visits within days of discharge to assess the home, prescribe equipment and reduce the risk of a return trip to hospital.
The period immediately after hospital discharge is one of the highest-risk times for an older person. Functional capacity changes quickly, the home may not be set up to match the new level of need, and equipment needs to be in place before the person walks back through the door. Our mobile OTs prioritise post-discharge referrals. We coordinate with the hospital discharge team, family and home care provider to get a home assessment done quickly, prescribe any equipment needed for day one, and provide a clear written plan for the recovery period. Most clients access this through a Home Care Package, HCP re-assessment, CHSP, or DVA. Some use private funding while waiting for packages to activate.
You'll speak with one of our AHPRA-registered OTs.
We usually call back within one business day.
Post-hospital OT for older adults
The period after hospital discharge is one of the highest-risk times for an older person. Functional capacity changes quickly, the home is often set up for how the person was six months ago rather than how they are today, and the equipment needed for day one may not be in place. Our OTs prioritise post-discharge referrals and aim to have someone at the home within days, sometimes before the person even arrives back.
Where timing allows, the ideal scenario is for the OT to assess the home while the person is still in hospital. This means any critical equipment (shower chair, commode, hospital-style bed, front-door ramp, grab rails) can be in place before they walk back through the door. We coordinate directly with the hospital discharge team or the family. Even 24 to 48 hours' notice can be enough to arrange urgent equipment hire for the critical items.
Your OT assesses the home against the person's current functional level, which may have changed significantly during the admission. Entry access, bathroom safety, bedroom setup, kitchen safety and stair management are all reviewed. The home that was fine before the admission may now have hazards that weren't previously relevant. Your OT identifies what's urgent, what can wait, and what needs to be in place before the person is safely alone.
Post-discharge equipment needs are often immediate. Your OT assesses and prescribes what's needed: shower chair, commode, walking frame, bed rails, grab rails, hospital bed, transfer board or pressure care mattress. For funded clients (HCP, CHSP, DVA), the prescription report initiates the supply process through the provider. For urgent needs, equipment hire can often be arranged within one to two business days while a funded purchase is organised.
Hospital admissions cause deconditioning, even short ones. Older people often return home having lost strength, confidence and capacity in everyday tasks. Your OT assesses which daily living skills have been affected and works on restoring them: getting dressed independently, preparing a simple meal, managing stairs, getting in and out of the car. This retraining is especially relevant after orthopaedic surgery, stroke or a prolonged illness.
If a family member or paid carer is taking on more of the physical care after discharge, your OT assesses whether they have the knowledge and technique to do this safely. This is combined with practical carer education at the visit: safe transfer techniques for the specific equipment in the home, how to assist with showering and dressing, what to watch for and when to call for help. For clients without a carer at home, your OT documents the level of supervision needed in the written report.
Your OT produces a written report and recovery plan documenting the home environment findings, equipment prescribed, functional status at the time of the visit and recommended follow-up. This is shared with the GP, home care provider and family. If the person's function changes in the first two weeks, which is common, your OT is available by phone and can arrange a follow-up visit to reassess. Post-discharge clients are a clinical priority.
Time matters after discharge. Here's how we move quickly to get the right support in place.
Hospital discharge teams, home care providers, GPs and families can all refer. The more notice we have, the better, but same-week referrals are common and we triage them. Call (07) 3477 9366 or use the callback form and note it's a post-hospital referral.
Our OT visits the home (ideally before or on the day of discharge if possible, otherwise within days). We assess the environment, the person's function, equipment needs and safety priorities. Where needed, we can arrange urgent equipment hire while permanent solutions are organised.
We provide a written report and recovery plan for the home care team, family and GP. If ongoing OT support is needed for strengthening, retraining daily skills or further modifications, we can continue as part of the HCP or private service.
Our Occupational Therapists are AHPRA-registered, supported by OT assistants, a psychologist, a speech pathologist and a warm admin team who'll be your first point of contact. Small enough to know your name, big enough to match you with someone whose experience fits your goals.
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Occupational Therapist
AHPRA-registered
Psychologist
AHPRA-registered
Speech Pathologist
SPA Certified Practising
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Under OT supervision
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Under OT supervision
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Under OT supervision
Speech Therapy Assistant
Under SPA supervision
Client Intake Coordinator
Intake team
Client Intake Coordinator
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Tell us your preferences: gender, language, cultural background, clinical experience. We'll match you with a clinician who fits.
We can't list fixed prices publicly. What you pay depends on your funding stream, the service, and your location. But every Astrad client gets the same three things, in writing, before any visit is booked.
Request a written quoteEvery client gets a clear written quote setting out session rates, expected travel time and any reports, before we schedule a single visit.
For NDIS participants we bill within the limits set out in the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. No surprises at invoice time.
Travel and non-face-to-face time are always quoted in writing, at the rates allowed for your funding stream. What you see is what you pay.
Our Occupational Therapists travel to you. At home, at school, at work or in the community. We cover metro and many regional areas across Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Not sure if we reach your postcode? Ask us. We usually confirm within one business day.
Check availabilityBrisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Toowoomba
Sydney, Central Coast, Wollongong, Newcastle
Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat
Hobart, Launceston, Devonport
These are the questions we hear from families, hospital social workers and home care coordinators when someone is about to come home from hospital.
Ideally before or on the day of discharge. The hospital discharge team may have already flagged it. If not, it's worth requesting. The home needs to be set up to match the person's current functional level, not what they were like six months ago. If you're organising it yourself as a family member, call us as soon as you know the discharge date and we'll work back from there.
Yes, and this is the ideal scenario. If we can visit the home while the person is still in hospital, we can arrange any necessary equipment to be in place before they arrive. This is particularly important for people who need a commode, shower chair, hospital-style bed, grab rails or a ramp to get through the front door safely. We can often arrange urgent equipment hire within 24 to 48 hours for critical items.
This is a very common situation. Without an active HCP, short-term options include the CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Programme), STRC (Short-Term Restorative Care) or private funding while a package is awaited. Some ACAT-assessed clients are eligible for interim HCP-funded services. Call us. We'll advise on what's available in your area and can often provide urgent private services while the funding is sorted.
We assess the home environment for safety and accessibility (bathroom, bedroom, entry, kitchen, stairs), the person's current functional level (transfers, mobility, personal care, cooking, medication management), their equipment needs (shower chair, commode, walking frame, hospital bed, grab rails), and the carer's capacity if relevant. We also discuss the recovery plan, what to watch for, and when to re-refer if things change. You receive a written report the same week.
Yes. DVA Gold Card holders are entitled to OT services after hospital discharge, including home assessments and equipment prescription. The process typically involves a referral from the treating team or GP. We prioritise DVA post-discharge referrals and are experienced in the DVA approval and supply process.
This is normal and expected. The first two weeks home are often the most volatile: function improves or declines, equipment doesn't work as expected, new safety issues emerge. We schedule a brief review call or follow-up visit at the one to two week mark for post-discharge clients, and we're contactable by phone between visits. If something urgent comes up, call us and we'll advise the same day.
Yes. Beyond safety and equipment, our OTs can support functional recovery: retraining daily living skills that declined during the hospital admission, working on energy management and pacing for people with reduced endurance, and coaching both the person and their carer on the recovery process. This is particularly relevant for people recovering from hip or knee surgery, stroke, deconditioning or a prolonged illness.
We triage post-discharge referrals and aim to have an OT at the home within days. We cover QLD, NSW, VIC and TAS and work with HCP providers, CHSP coordinators, DVA and private clients. Call us on (07) 3477 9366 or fill in the form and mention the discharge date.
We usually call back within one business day.
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm Brisbane time
