Why home is best for recovery
It is important to go to hospital if you are very ill or need surgery, but studies suggest the best place to recover is at home. People who are admitted to hospital often lose their independence very quickly. This makes it harder for them to get home again and get back to doing the things they enjoy.
What is intermediate care?
Intermediate care services provide support to help you stay well and get better at home. This support is provided by a team of people who can work with you to help you achieve what you want to be able to do.
Intermediate care may help you:
- remain at home when you start to find things more difficult
- recover after a fall, an acute illness or an operation
- avoid going into hospital unnecessarily
- return home more quickly after a hospital stay
Intermediate Care in Somerset
In Somerset, the Intermediate Care service is made up of lots of different health and social care professionals who can work with you, This is to make sure you get the right kind of help, such as help with washing, dressing, going to the toilet, or getting around the house.
They also work with groups like the Red Cross to help people recover at home after being in the hospital. This can stop people from going back to the hospital when they do not need to, making sure hospitals can handle busy times and have beds for those who really need them.
If you need this service, you will be referred to it. It provides a number of ‘pathways’ offering varying levels of support. This is to help people get back home and become independent again as soon as they are well enough.
