Matthew home for good with hospital in the home

For four decades, 87-year-old Matthew Janssen poured his heart into his old Queenslander, building it up and painting every square inch by hand, and after spending months in hospital, a special initiative has now allowed him to return home.

Mr Janssen is among the first patients being supported through the new Maintenance in the Home (MiTH) program, a partnership between Townsville University Hospital (TUH) and Hospital in Your Home, designed to deliver hospital‑level care to older patients in the comfort of their own homes.

Born in the Netherlands, Mr Janssen migrated to Australia in the 1960s and built a long career as a boilermaker.

In late 2025 and early 2026, he experienced multiple hospital admissions due to a life‑threatening skin condition on top of a complex medical history including prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and cardiac disease.

During this time, he sadly lost his wife of 35 years to an unexpected illness.

Shortly after, Mr Janssen was discharged under the MiTH program and able to return home under a 24/7 hospital‑equivalent model of care.

Hospital in Your Home chief executive officer Dr Michael Young said MiTH was created to support patients who were medically stable but unable to leave hospital due to social or physical challenges.

“Matthew’s journey reflects exactly what MiTH was designed to achieve,” Dr Young said.

“Rather than remaining in a hospital bed, patients like Matthew receive comprehensive care at home where they are naturally more active and engaged.

“Matthew receives daily visits from nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors and personal care staff, alongside local small businesses who provide supports including gardening, cooking, and house cleaning.

“The goal is to keep people safe at home for longer and prevent unnecessary transition into residential aged care.”

Dr Young said by the time Mr Janssen was clinically ready for discharge, he was severely deconditioned, grieving, and barely able to climb the 13 steps into his home.

“Fast-forward to today and Matthew can safely manage the stairs and spends his time feeding the birds on his porch, and working in his garden and workshop,” Dr Young said.

“The MiTH program integrates digital platforms to support safer home-based care including monitoring daily routines and identifying early health changes through ambient sensors around the home.

“We also utilise an interaction platform designed to foster meaningful engagement between patients, carers, families, and care teams, which helps with social participation and leads to better cognitive function, emotional resilience, and overall quality of life for patients.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service director of nursing Mary Leech said the program benefited both patients and the hospital system.

“The program helps to address bed shortages and emergency department ramping by relocating patients who no longer need acute hospital care,” Ms Leech said.

“However, the most significant benefit is to patients themselves.

“At home, compared to the hospital, people are naturally more active and maintain independence and autonomy, so everyday movement becomes rehabilitation.”

For Matthew, the program meant everything.

“It’s good to be at home; I can do my own thing, make a cup of coffee, and walk in the backyard,” Mr Janssen said.

“The doctors, nurses, and everyone that helps me are amazing.

“This really is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, after marrying my wife.”

Mr Janssen has recently undergone an aged care assessment and will receive a Commonwealth funded community care package to keep him at home, a key transition point built into the MiTH model.