Service
It’s 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.
Just 10 days of bed rest for healthy older people can equate to 10 years of muscle ageing and loss of function. Staying at home means you can keep your independence.
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:
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 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.