About us

Our Better@Home program helps you get hospital care at home. If it’s safe and you’d rather stay at home, you can keep getting treatment there instead of staying in hospital.

The program helps you:

• reach your care goals
• stay well after leaving hospital
  
• sometimes even avoid going to hospital at all.

Hear from patients who have received care at home 

Our services

If you live in the Austin Health area (Banyule, Darebin or Nillumbik), the Better@Home program can help you keep recovering at home, where you feel most comfortable.

Your care team will include doctors, nurses and other health experts - just like in hospital. They’ll visit you at home to give you the care you need while you're in the program.

Better@Home focuses on helping you feel better and manage everyday tasks at home, while still getting the same high-quality care you’d receive in hospital.

What your care will look like at home

• You can get help 24 hours a day. This includes visits from staff at home, phone calls, and video calls. You’ll be closer to your family and friends while still getting the care you need.
• At least one team member will visit you at home each day. The number of visits and types of care will depend on what you need. We’ll call you each day to let you know what time we’re coming. You’ll need to be home during that time.
• Your care team may include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, dietitians, speech pathologists, orthotists, neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists and allied health assistants. We’ll talk with you and your family about your care plan and goals throughout your time in the program.

Related services

• Hospital in the Home & Virtual Care

  We care for you in your own home.

• Helping you stay active & well at home

  We work with you to improve your health and help you manage everyday tasks to improve your quality of life.

FAQs about Better@Home

Find answers to frequently asked questions about our Better@Home program.

Referrals

For patients

If you are currently staying in hospital and would like to access the Better@Home program, please speak to your Austin Health medical team about options for continuing your treatment at home.

For health professionals

Complete our referral form and send via email to: externalreferrals@austin.org.au 

Please attach any recent test results such as pathology, observations relevant imaging and medication charts.

This email address is only for referrals to the Better@Home program.

If you’re looking to refer a patient to Specialist Clinics, please see: refer your patient to Specialist Clinics.

Contact us

Better@Home program

Call our switchboard and ask for Better@Home

Phone: 9496 5000

Email: betterathome@austin.org.au