Care service aims to help elderly people home

A care service in Somerset has joined forces with its local council to launch an initiative which intends to help elderly people out of hospital beds and back into their homes.

Orchard Care will work in partnership with North Somerset County Council on a scheme called 'reablement care' which involves elderly people being given help and support at its Pine Lodge home in Milton so they can then live independently in their own properties rather than being transferred to residential care.

Jonathan Thrush, director of Orchard Care told the Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury that people who enjoy a period of convalescence will more than likely be able to return to their home.

He added: "A person's confidence is often knocked when they come out of hospital and they feel that they cannot manage or cope.

"This service is about looking after them and trying to keep them active, then giving them tasks they would carry out at home, instead of them just going to a residential home."

Helen Fuller, manager of Pine Lodge, said: "I think this type of care is much more goal orientated, which looks towards a positive outcome, and it looks at what people can do and what they can achieve."

A spokesperson from North Somerset Council stated that is pleased to back the initiative and it feels that it is important that elderly people are given the support and means to be able to live as independently as possible.

People who help care for elderly people in their homes may qualify for financial support from the government.

If you are aged over 16 and care for someone for 35 hours or more each week then you can apply for carer's allowance and carer's premium by completing a DS700 form, which is available on the Department of Work and Pensions' website.

Posted by the paying for care editorial team