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Transitions from hospital to residential aged care can be distressing for people living with dementia and their families, particularly when information is fragmented, and family expertise is not consistently integrated into care planning. Dementia Support Australia’s Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program has developed the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) role to bridge this gap and strengthen continuity of person-centred care across settings. In this practice-focused oral presentation, we describe how FLOs work with families of people living with dementia during transitions from hospital to residential aged care, incorporating structured communication, tailored education, shared problem-solving with care teams, and attention to the emotional dimensions of transition, including guilt and grief. Key FLO touchpoints include: early engagement at admission or commencement of discharge planning to clarify goals and needs; helping families address barriers to decision-making and preparation for the move; support at transition to reinforce shared understanding of the person’s needs; and post-transition follow-up to explore emerging concerns and promote partnership with the care provider. Case examples suggest the role may reduce family distress, increase agency, facilitate adjustment, and contribute to the sustainability of aged care placements for people living with dementia. Although preliminary, these observations may offer transferable insights for workforce innovation in aged care transitions. Participants will leave with practical strategies to embed family engagement in transition processes, identify common transition risks for people living with dementia, and consider how family liaison can be implemented to support continuity of care across acute and aged care services.
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