Settling people back into home from hospital
Published: 20 April 2023
More than 40 people across Wolverhampton benefitted from a service supporting them to settle back into their home after a stay in hospital.
The service, which was funded by OneWolverhampton, was delivered jointly by Age UK Wolverhampton (AUKW) and Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action (WVCA) to help ease pressures on hospital services during the winter months.
It offered practical help and support to aid recovery at home and reduce readmissions to hospital for support that can best be delivered in the community. This included a package of information and advice around financial support and signposting to services, a home safety check and energy efficiency test to ensure the home is warm, home help support for two hours a week for up to four weeks following discharge, as well as social prescribing services to free activities in the community to support with loneliness and isolation.
Sian Thomas, Interim Partnership Director for OneWolverhampton, said: “This has been a real benefit in helping people to settle back into their home during the cold and dark winter months when our services are at their most pressured. It can be really difficult to settle back into home after a stay in hospital especially for older people who don’t always have people around them that can help. Working with our voluntary sector has meant we can be reassured that people are going back to a safe and supported environment.”
Mark Guest, Chief Executive Officer, for Age UK Wolverhampton, said: “It has been a real pleasure to be able to provide a service which makes such a difference to a person’s long-term health and wellbeing. Making sure they are settled and safe within their home, as well as supporting them to access services within the community that can have such benefits to their everyday life such as helping to reduce energy bills, is key to helping them live as healthy and independently as possible.”
Ian Darch, Chief Executive Officer, for Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action (WVCA), said: “Being lonely or isolated has a major impact on a persons health and wellbeing and there are so many ways we can support people with this through social prescribing. Once someone has settled back into their home, if they want some support we allocate them a link worker who will find out more about their interests, needs and any barriers they may face in accessing services. The link worker will then help them to access one of the many services across the city that offer activities to support people within their community make social connections.” The service was piloted as part of winter plans and the partnership are exploring funding opportunities for the future.