Coming home from hospital is often a relief, but it can also be a time of worry. You may still feel weak, tired or unsteady, and everyday tasks that once felt simple can suddenly seem overwhelming. Without the right support in place, recovery can feel like a challenge.
At Country Cousins, our after hospital care service is designed to help you or your loved one settle back into familiar surroundings with confidence. A live in carer can provide practical help, emotional reassurance and companionship, making recovery at home safer and more comfortable.
Whether you need short term support while you regain strength or longer term care for ongoing needs, we are here to make life easier during your recovery.
What is after hospital care?
There are two main types of after hospital care: intermediate care and reablement services. Your healthcare team will usually assess you before discharge and note whether either of these services is required.
Intermediate care
Intermediate care aims to help you become more independent after leaving hospital. Services include nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, designed to promote a quicker recovery. Your carer will promote your independence during this time, but you may need to lean on them quite a bit during your healing journey.
As you begin to feel better, you may not need your carer as much anymore. It’s up to you to decide whether you’d benefit from more long-term care rather than living alone. Some people just need a quick boost after spending time in hospital, while others may feel more secure with continuous care moving forward.
Intermediate care is a great way to continue healing with hospital-style support while in the comfort of your own home. It can also be offered in care homes and your community hospital.
Reablement services
Reablement services are a more long-term form of hospital aftercare, focusing on helping you live more independently to prevent the risk of you needing another hospital stay. Your carer will help you learn or re-learn skills necessary for everyday living.
You’ll be offered as much guidance and support as you need while washing, cooking, dressing and moving around your home. A carer will encourage you to do these things for yourself, but still be there should you need help.
This is a great way to boost your confidence after a fall or extended hospital stay has left you feeling uneasy on your own. You can choose to stop after hospital care once you’re confident with living alone again, or you can continue with live-in care for extra support and security.
What’s included in after hospital care?
After hospital care is designed to facilitate the smoothest transition from ward to home as possible. To promote this, a carer can offer:
- Rehabilitation services, like physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
- Emotional support and companionship
- Coordination between your care team for follow-up appointments, changes in care plan and a seamless recovery
- Home safety by modifying and reducing hazards around the house
- Nutritional support and meal prepping
- Help getting to and from appointments, therapy sessions and other rehabilitation services
- Encouragement to facilitate social engagements, connect with support groups and keep lines of communication open with loved ones
Who is after hospital care for?
After hospital care is for anyone who’s recently been discharged from the hospital and needs additional support at home. It can promote better and faster recovery while allowing you to relax in the comfort of your own home.
While anyone can receive after hospital care, it’s most common for people who have experienced:
- Physical trauma
- Bone fractures
- Burns
- Surgery
- Stroke
- A fall at home
Support from hospital aftercare isn’t always physical. It can also be rehabilitative, emotional and logistical. The aim is to make your transition back home as smooth and effective as possible, supporting your recovery the entire way.
The benefits of after hospital care
Proactive support from an experienced live-in carer is often essential for promoting quick and effective recovery. There are plenty of benefits of opting for extra support after being discharged, including:
- Care in the comfort of your own home: Continue your recovery journey at home with fewer interruptions and less stress.
- Instant adjustments to your care plan: Your carer will monitor your symptoms and progress and report back to your care team for quick and effective adjustments.
- Help around the house: Your carer can assist you with cleaning, laundry, cooking, shopping, and other chores.
- Tailored care: You’ll receive one-on-one care focused on your needs and preferences, which may include companionship, mobility assistance and mental health support.
- Confidence boost: Having a carer in your support system can give you the security you need to get back on your feet after a knock to your confidence.
- Companionship and emotional support: A live-in carer offers 24/7 companionship to avoid isolation and loneliness while you’re recovering and can’t get out as much as you’d like.
Where can I get after hospital care?
There are several places you can get after hospital care, although the most common is in your own home. This is because most people find recovery in their familiar surroundings much more appealing than a hospital. However, at home isn’t the only option:
- At home: Care offered at home focuses on helping you regain your independence in everyday life. This may support assistance with bathing and hygiene, moving around and more. At-home care can continue for as long as you require it.
- Reablement centres: Often offering short-term care, these centres focus on helping you recover from illnesses or injuries while strengthening your confidence before going home.
- Care home: Residential and nursing homes offer longer-term care for people who aren’t ready to go home after a hospital stay. This is an alternative to a live-in carer at home.
- Community hospital: Some community hospitals offer prolonged stays to patients who need extra support with recovery and reablement.
Choosing after hospital care at home
There are several reasons why you might choose after hospital care services, and plenty of benefits to utilising live-in care rather than a communal setting. Here are some of the reasons why you may choose home care:
- The familiarity of your belongings can positively impact your well-being and mental health
- Home care promotes a better quality of life by maintaining more independence and autonomy compared to residential care or hospital environments
- You’ll have more control over your daily routine, choices and preferences
- There’s a reduced risk of infection with home care compared to a prolonged stay in hospital
- More cost-effective, convenient and flexible for you and your loved ones
- You can stay in your neighbourhood, near your friends and loved ones, instead of moving somewhere completely different
How Country Cousins can help
At Country Cousins, we understand how important effective reablement care is to a successful recovery. Our goal is to empower our clients as they transition back into their daily routines while minimising the risk of setbacks. We’ll match you with one of our experienced live-in carers who can provide support with:
- Assistance with washing, dressing and toileting needs
- Mobility support and steadying around the home
- Transport to and from appointments and social events
- Rehabilitation support, such as daily exercises and health monitoring
- Light housework, cooking, shopping and laundry
- Pet feeding and care
- Companionship, emotional support, and help with hobbies
We want to make your transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible. Our carers can support you with anything you need while fostering independence and dignity, whether you need us for a few weeks or a more long-term arrangement.
Talk to our team today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
