Is Reablement Care the same as Complex Care?

Returning home after being discharged from hospital can be a scary experience for yourself and your family. Whether you’ve had a fall, an acute illness or an operation – reablement care is a free, short-term form of care that is designed to support you when leaving hospital. The aim is to help you learn to live independently again with confidence.

What is reablement care?

Reablement care is different to other forms of care as its primary focus is helping you to rebuild your confidence. Social care professionals will access your needs and discuss your goals with you. From this, they will design a care plan that encourages you to take on various tasks day-to-day until you are able to live independently again.
These goals could be anything from maintaining personal hygiene and preparing meals to using the stairs safely. Carers will provide aid with these tasks and, as time goes on, provide support and reassurance as you take on these tasks yourself.
Intermediate care may also be provided alongside your reablement care. Intermediate care focuses on your physical health such as mobility, balance and strength. Occupational therapists and community nurses may be added to your reablement care team to help with this.

Is reablement the same as supported living?

Reablement care has the same principles as our independent supported living service. Both forms of care focus on goal setting and building confidence. However, independent supported living can be offered to a range of people including those with learning difficulties, disabilities, brain injuries and mental health problems. Independent supported living care can last much longer than reablement care, depending on the goals of the individual and the level of support required. Supported living is a long term solution to help everyone live a better fuller life.

What are the differences between reablement care and complex care?

Complex care is often provided to those who have chronic or long-term health conditions including those with epilepsy, respiratory problems or people who present high risk behaviours. Those receiving complex care may need care for long periods of time, or possibly for the majority of their lives. Reablement care is short-term and is designed to encourage the person receiving care to be able to live without the need for carers in the future.

What are the key benefits of reablement care?

There are many benefits to reablement care such as:

• Supports the person receiving care in regaining and maintain skills
• Helps to encourage the need for minimal or no support is needed in the future
• Rebuilds the person’s confidence after illness, injury, developing a disability or a period in hospital
• Aims to prevent readmission to hospital
• Reduces an early move to a care home
• Free to those who meet the eligibility criteria defined by their local authority
• The goal setting approach works well for the person being cared for
• Care is often provided in the home (can be provided in a care home facility in some circumstances)
• Focuses on wellbeing and promoting independence
• Provides peace of mind to family and friends during initial stages after leaving hospital
• Helps avoid social isolation as the person receiving care is encouraged to become involved in different areas of the local community

How long should reablement care last?

Reablement care takes a very personal approach. You will be monitored and assessed throughout the process to determine if you are meeting your goals. This is to ensure that, by the end of the process, you feel safe living independently.

Reablement care is free on the NHS for up to 6 weeks. For some, support may only be needed for 2 weeks, for others the full 6 weeks are used. The amount of time the care service is used depends on how quickly the goals you have set are achieved. Any support required beyond this time may mean you have to pay for it.

How can I get support to live more independently?

Reablement care can help with your recovery and is available to a number of people. To be eligible for this care you must have experienced an acute episode of illness or an injury that has impacted your functional independence.

To access reablement care, simply speak to hospital staff before you are discharged from an NHS hospital. Hospital staff will conduct an assessment and your discharge co-ordinator will ensure care is arranged before you leave the hospital.

In some cases, hospital admission is not required and you can be referred by an adult social care community team – this may happen in cases such as a fall at home which requires assistance in recovering from. When reablement care finishes, the reablement care team will work with you to decide if further care is needed as well as talking about who you can contact for further or ongoing care.

If you feel you require extra support to live independently – please contact us today to discuss how our personal approach to care can help you live a more comfortable life at home.