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, which 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 comprised of lots of different health and social care professionals who can work with you to ensure 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 the voluntary and community sector, with organisations such as the Red Cross able to support people with their recovery at home after a period in hospital. This can help people avoid unnecessary hospital admission, ensuring hospitals manage in the event of increased demand, and freeing beds for those who need them most.
The service, which you will be referred to if it is needed, provides a number of ‘pathways’ offering varying levels of support to people, with the ultimate aim of getting them back home as soon as they are well enough, and back to their normal standard of independence as soon as possible.
