The findings reveal in the last five years almost 200,000 people aged over 75 returned home from hospital without the support they needed to look after themselves, and thousands of readmissions could be prevented if they received more help at discharge.
The report, assisted by The King’s Fund, marks the launch of a campaign Let’s End Going Home Alone, which sees the charity work in partnership with communities, local authorities and NHS Trusts to provide more volunteers in hospitals and support vulnerable older people in their homes following discharge from hospital.
Under the scheme volunteers support older people after a stay in hospital, making sure their house is safe and warm, helping with meals, transport to follow-up GP appointments and providing a friendly face that they can always call on to raise their spirits.
David McCullough, chief executive of Royal Voluntary Service “Placing a caring volunteer at the centre of an older person’s recovery plan dramatically improves their experience, their confidence and their well-being, and helps them continue to live independent fulfilling lives.
“It also drives important efficiencies in hospitals enabling swift, well-managed discharge from wards. A strong warning sign identified in the report is the link between early discharge and readmission."
He said increased longevity was putting pressure on health and social care – over the last 10 years hospital admissions for those over 75 had risen four times faster than ageing trends in the population (38% versus 10%). The growth in hospital readmissions had been higher still, up by 86%.
The Government this year announced that as part of the recently boosted £5bn Better Care Fund, it aims to save £532m through improving home care and cutting hospital readmissions.
Kings Fund analysis of hospital readmissions and the cost of ‘excess admissions’ in England, estimated that providing volunteer support to older people as they leave hospital could save the NHS £40.4m each year through reducing unnecessary readmissions.
Older people can be especially vulnerable and frail following a stint in hospital, and often require careful management of their health conditions. Currently, 13% of over-75s are readmitted within three months of discharge, adding pressure to already stretched A&E services.
Among those who were readmitted to hospital within three months, a greater need for support at discharge was reported with 43% saying they had needed ‘a great deal’ or “quite a lot” more, compared with only 27% of those who were not readmitted within three months. More than a quarter (26%) said they simply didn’t feel well enough to go home.
While the majority are relieved to return home at discharge, many older people feel anxious (15%) at the prospect. Those living alone can feel particularly vulnerable – in Britain, 46% of over-75s who have been in hospital in the last five years live on their own.
For more information on the Let’s End Going Home Alone campaign visit:
http://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/our-impact/lets-end-going-home-alone