Social Care News

Initiative launched to help frail elderly recuperate at home

HEALTH Minister Edwina Hart has launched a pilot project to help frail older people who’ve been in hospital for minor conditions to return to the comfort of their own homes to recuperate.

The scheme, which began in November, is called the Frailty Fast Track Project and will be trialled at Wrexham Maelor Hospital for six months.

It aims to prevent elderly people from being delayed in hospital after they’ve been treated for a minor ailment, which can result in their ability to care for themselves being reduced.

Instead, frail, older patients will be helped through the hospital care system to allow them to go home promptly when they are well.  When they return home, patients will have access to extra care and support, if needed, to allow them to comfortably resettle into their daily lives.

Mrs Hart said: "This pilot project will be an innovative way to try to streamline care for vulnerable older patients who need hospital treatment for relatively minor conditions but may face unnecessary delays during their stay.

“Often this delayed transfer from hospital is usually against patients’ and carers’ wishes and also means additional cost for the health and social services.  

“If this project can reduce the amount of time a patient needs to stay in hospital,  it will allow older people to comfortably return to their daily routine as soon as possible and continue to live independently in their own homes.”

Chief medical officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, said: “The project will support older patients through their stay in hospital and provide extra assistance to help them resettle into their own homes so that they are able to resume their day to day lives as soon as possible.

“Enabling staff to follow the patient from hospital into the community to improve continuity of care for the frail elderly should improve effective communication between hospital and community services and help patients and families feel supported.”