From Hospital To Home Service

From Hospital to Home Service

People should be supported to be discharged home, at the right time, and with the right support that maximises their independence and leads to the best possible sustainable outcomes.

What is a needs assessment?

A care professional will come to the individual’s home and will spend an initial two hours understanding how the individual is managing everyday tasks and what they would like to achieve in their day-to-day life.

They will consider:

The individual’s health, abilities and what they can and can’t do, or struggle to do
The individual’s current living arrangements
The individual’s current medication regime
What help they currently get, if any, and whether this can continue – for example, it may be that friends and family are helping them now but can’t continue to do so long-term
Welfare benefits assessment support
How the individual would like to be supported
The assessor will consider the emotional and social side of the individual’s life, their physical safety and their overall wellbeing

If they need to, and with the individual’s permission, the assessor may get in contact with any health and social care professionals that can help with their assessment. This is to make sure the assessment fully considers any health conditions the individual has.

Care Plan After the assessment, a care plan will be written, the individual will be given a copy and a copy retained by Age Concern Welfare Service. The care plan outlines a proposal to meet the individual’s needs;

Help Around The House
Help with Cooking
Help taking care of themselves
Help Getting out and about
Useful equipment at home
Home adaptations
Technology
Benefits application

How do individuals get a care needs assessment?

Get in touch with the Age Concern Helpline on 652 537 615 and ask about a Hospital to Home needs assessment. There’s no charge for the needs assessment you’re entitled to one following a hospital episode within a 12 month period regardless of your income, savings or level of need. If you need further assessment within any 12 month period a minimal charge may be applicable. You can arrange a care needs assessment on behalf of a relative or friend, but they have to agree to the assessment (unless they don’t have the capacity to make or communicate that decision themselves).