Caring for a loved one can be one of life’s rewards – and one of its toughest challenges.
It can mean putting your own health last. With HammondCare’s Short-Term Restorative
Care (STRC) program, patients can rebuild strength and confidence.

When 91-year-old Laurie began to feel out of breath, struggled to move around and lost
13 kg in just a few months, she realised she needed some extra help. Laurie is the primary
carer for her husband Nandy, who lives with Parkinson’s disease.

'I need to stay as well as possible,’ Laurie said. ‘But I was running out of strength.’

That’s when Laurie was referred to the STRC program. Over eight weeks, Laurie received tailored support from a HammondCare allied health team, including a physiotherapist,
occupational therapist, exercise physiologist, dietician, as well as a program coordinator.

Describing the team as her ‘angels’, Laurie shared, ‘It’s been an enormous help, and I feel
thoroughly supported.’

The team visited Laurie at home and set out some achievable goals, including gentle
exercises and a focus on healthy eating. She soon noticed the changes: better stamina,
improved mood and more energy to care for Nandy. Her daughter Kim noticed too.

‘It’s like the sun has shone into my parents’ house again,’ Kim said.

A government-funded program, STRC provides intensive allied health support, nursing and
personal care services, as well as practical supports like equipment and in-home
technology.

Under the new Support at Home reforms, effective from 1 November 2025, STRC will become the Restorative Care Pathway, expanding from eight to 12 weeks – more time for even better outcomes.

For Laurie, the benefits are already clear. She can move more easily and breathe better.
Most importantly, she has the energy to keep caring for Nandy while they continue living
their life together at home. ‘I feel like myself again, and that means I can keep being here
for him.’

Research spotlight

A landmark study of HammondCare’s STRC program confirmed its effectiveness in helping older people stay strong and independent at home:

• 484 clients (average age 81) followed over two years.
• 99% remained living in their own homes after STRC.
• Statistically significant improvements in daily function (MBI scores). Outcomes also measured in nutrition, frailty, goal attainment and patient-reported wellbeing.

Published in BMC Health Services Research (2025)