Moving to adult health services: Information for parents and carers
This guide contains information for family members and carers about supporting your young person with intellectual disability to move (or transition) to adult health services.
A family member or carer provides support with daily needs and decision making. They can be unpaid (e.g. family/friend) or paid (e.g. support worker).
The below stages are not linear and young people may move between them at various times throughout their transition.
This picture shows the different stages in the move from child to adult health services. Click here to see a bigger copy of this picture that you can print out.
Discuss
As your young person gets older, it is important to speak with them and their healthcare team about getting ready to move to adult health services.
Moving to adult health services is called transition.
Talking about transition early will help you understand the stages and steps that you can take to make it easier.
The My Lived iD website is a resource for people with intellectual disability, family/carers and healthcare professionals.
Plan
Your young person’s healthcare team will work with you and your young person to write a plan for their move to adult health services. You can ask for a copy of this plan.
You can support your young person to choose adult health services that are appropriate for them.
Other things you may consider at this time include:
The Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for unpaid carers.
Transition (move)
Your young person’s healthcare team will work with you and your young person to ensure everyone is ready to make the move to adult health services.
You will agree on a time period for the move to adult health services to take place.
Depending on your young person’s capacity and needs, the role you play in supporting them to access adult health services may change. For National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants, this will include updating plan nominees.
Ensure your young person stays connected with their GP. A health check should be conducted at least once a year, even if they feel well.
Your young person’s rights are important. They have a right to access health services and have good health care. Support them to ask questions and speak up if something does not sound right.
The Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) is an evidence-based tool for conducting annual health assessments for people with intellectual disability. Part 1 of this tool is to be completed by the young person with intellectual disability and their family/carers.
As your young person gets older, it is important to speak with them and their healthcare team about getting ready to move to adult health services.
As a family member/carer, there are things you can do to involve your young person in their health care.
Your young person’s healthcare team will work with you and your young person to write a plan for their move to adult health services. You can ask for a copy of this plan.
There are a number of things you can do to prepare for your young person to move to adult health services.
Your young person’s healthcare team will work with you and your young person to ensure everyone is ready to make the move to adult health services.