Past and present staff and managers of the Clarence Valley Transitional Aged Care Service (TACS) gathered recently to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Transitional Aged Care Packages being allocated to the Clarence Valley. In May 2006, 15 permanent flexible care packages for older people were allocated to Community Health for the Clarence Valley, with an enhancement of an additional six packages 2011 to enable additional Nursing and Allied Health staff to be employed. Joanne Andrews, Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) Clarence Community Health and Aged Care, said the TACS was aimed at assisting older people regain physical and psychosocial functioning following a hospital stay. “The Service aims to provide the older person with the opportunity to continue to improve after a hospital stay, rather than having to enter residential care,” Ms Andrews said. “Since 2006, the TACS has maintained a high occupancy rate of 98 per cent. During this time many older people have been offered the opportunity of safe early discharge from hospital by providing short-term active management and low intensity therapy and support at home. “This support allows them to recover and maximise their function while being able to remain at home or alternatively, given the time and assistance needed to make long-term accommodation choices.”