What Is After-Hospital Care?
Care after hospital discharge, also known as transition or post-hospital care, includes various reablement care services delivered by a proactive clinician at home. Before leaving the hospital, individuals should receive a formal discharge plan according to their ongoing health needs, physical condition, and living arrangements.
Care after leaving the hospital is beneficial for people who require additional support to recover from their challenges and resume their everyday activities. Depending on the individual’s long-term needs, reablement services can be delivered by live-in care experts in their own homes or a nursing care facility. District nurses assigned by the local government can deliver free temporary care for up to six weeks after the individual’s discharge.
After the hospital discharge assessment, clinicians should work closely with the individual’s GP and the team of qualified specialists involved in their hospital setting treatment. After-hospital carers offer people necessary support with everyday tasks in their own homes, allowing them to stay close to their family members and integrate into the local community. At Unique Community Services, we provide compassionate and proactive care for individuals with complex care needs in the comfort of their own homes.
What Services Are Offered with After-Hospital Care?
A discharge team, which may consist of a nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and social worker, should evaluate the individual’s overall health and ability. Following this, the assessors should inform the individual and their family members about the care services required for their needs. Depending on your health situation, you may be eligible for free transition care in the first six weeks after leaving the hospital.
You can receive transition care services in a specialist setting (such as a nursing home) or the comfort of your own home. A transition care package typically includes the following services:
- Reablement services
- Personal care
- Respite care
- Nursing care
- Social care
- Home maintenance
- Transport services
- Intermediate care services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, mobility assistance)
Who Should Consider After-Hospital Care?
Individuals who had a recent hospital stay due to an accident or health difficulty may need to consider reablement, intermediate care, or aftercare services. These types of short-term care after hospital discharge aim to help the person live as independently as possible and avoid further hospital stays.
Temporary care is vital to regaining routine and independence after a fall, traffic accident, stroke, or another medical emergency.
Individuals who have undergone surgery need post-operative care throughout hospitalisation and shortly after their discharge from the hospital. Post-operative carers are trained to address critical concerns after surgery, such as wound healing, pain control, airway protection, and stoma care.
Long-Term Care After Hospital Discharge
After a certain recovery period at home, an expert team should conduct a care needs assessment to determine your long-term requirements. The discharge plan should prioritise your support needs, as well as your personal boundaries and preferences regarding home care.
At-home long-term care includes medical, personal, and social care services aiming to help the individual return to an independent life. A long-term care package at home is preferable to a prolonged hospital stay because the former offers closeness to your loved ones and involvement in the local community. Long-term care after hospital discharge allows the person to thrive in their familiar surroundings and reach their full potential in all areas of everyday life.
The Goal of After-Hospital Care
As a primary short-term support service, intermediate care aims to help individuals regain their independence after their hospital discharge. This type of assistance can be provided in community hospitals, nursing homes, or the individual’s own home. If the team decides that the person may benefit from intermediate care, they should set achievable goals and support the individual in reaching them. Intermediate care involves various specialists in helping people relearn everyday skills, such as occupational therapists and social care experts.
Reablement is a special type of intermediate care that focuses on helping people relearn basic life skills and regain their independence. Clinicians in reablement care may assist and guide the individual to complete everyday tasks like washing, dressing, and preparing snacks. Reablement care aims to improve the person’s mobility and help them rebuild their confidence.
Benefits of After-Hospital Care
Care and support after hospital discharge include various medical treatments, well-being support, and accommodations that help people adjust to everyday life after leaving the hospital. Trained clinicians help individuals with complex care needs to recover faster and provide peace of mind to their whole families.
Below are listed the main benefits of discharge planning and quality support after leaving the hospital.
High-quality Nursing
Comprehensive transition care at home includes several nursing services, such as:
- Medication administration
- Injections
- Medication management
- Wound care
- Continence care
- Cervical collar care
At-home clinicians follow the discharge plan to provide detailed nursing care and guide individuals on their pathway to full recovery.
Well-Being Adjustments
Apart from medical assistance, home care providers can make various adjustments to accommodate the individual after being discharged from the hospital. Certain home modifications and mobility assistance devices can make everyday tasks easier for the individual and help them get in touch with the local community.
Housekeeping Assistance
By outsourcing household chores to a dedicated clinician, you can spend more time focusing on your health and shorten your road to recovery. Reablement care after leaving the hospital includes professional assistance with essential household tasks, such as meal preparation, cleaning, doing the laundry, gardening, and shopping.
Social Care
Finally, social integration is a crucial part of home care after the person’s hospital discharge. Clinicians help individuals stay physically active and get in touch with their local community. Partaking in meaningful activities and nurturing beloved hobbies allow individuals with complex care needs to raise their confidence and improve their emotional well-being.
Why People Are Choosing Home Care Instead of Prolonged Hospital Stay?
Unfamiliar surroundings can increase the risk of falls in case of reduced balance, mobility, hearing, or vision. This is why people who were discharged from a medical facility (especially older individuals) can have a safer recovery in their own homes. By receiving the support you need in your familiar surroundings, you are at a lower risk of injuries due to falls and other accidents.
Furthermore, access to home care services allows individuals with complex care needs to bond with their families and invite friends over. People often feel more comfortable in their own homes, and it creates further independence.
How Unique Community Services Can Help You After Hospital Discharge
At Unique Community Services, delivering high-quality care and support to individuals with complex care needs after hospital discharge is our lifelong mission. We take a dedicated and humanised approach to the improvement of each individual’s physical and mental health after a critical injury or challenges with health.
Our trained clinicians work with a team of healthcare professionals to assess a person’s needs, and then we outline a person-centred support plan in accordance with the individual’s requirements, preferences, and boundaries. This way, we provide proactive assistance to individuals discharged from the hospital in their own homes. Apart from delivering personal care and medical assistance, we prioritise the individual’s independence, self-esteem, and social integration.
If you need a humanised care provider for yourself or a family member after a hospital discharge, Unique Community Services is the right provider for you. Our expert team currently offers at-home care and support for people with eligible needs in Bristol and Manchester.
Contact us, and we will tailor a personalised care plan catering to your specific requirements.
