Preventing Hospitalisation

Case Study Two: Early Detection and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

This case demonstrates the value of consistent care and familiarity with clients’ normal behaviours.

Key points:

1. Continuity of care: Home Instead provides regular visits, with the same Care Professional’s, which allows better detection of changes in client behaviour.
2. Knowledge of health issues in older adults: Our training helps Care Professional’s understand that confusion can be an early sign of UTIs in older adults. Our client was showing signs of confusion and this was picked up by a Care Professional on one of their regular visits:

Providing domiciliary care, or home visits, we detected the client was not themselves at 4pm

Home Instead alerted the son who alerted the GP and a prescription was written by 5pm. We went to the pharmacy to pick up the medication and the client had their first tablet by 5.30pm.

The antibiotics began to work within 24 hours and the client’s behaviour quickly improved.

1. Quick action and coordination: Rapid communication between care provider, family and healthcare professionals.
2. Efficient process: From detection to treatment initiation in just 1.5 hours.
3. Outcome: Prevented potential hospitalisation by treating the infection early.

Case Study Three: End-of-Life Care

This case illustrates Home Instead’s ability to provide comprehensive, compassionate care through all stages of older life, including end-of-life care at home.

Key points:

1. Continuity of care: Home Instead transitioned from caring for the client’s partner to the client himself. Client already knew the Care Professional’s visiting when he started to deteriorate and needed care himself.
2. Specialised training: Staff received training specific to the client’s COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) and oxygen needs.
3. Collaboration with healthcare professionals: Worked alongside hospital respiratory team, GP, district nurses and hospice palliative care team.
4. Flexibility in care provision: Adapted to 24-hour care needs, coordinating with another care company for night shifts which worked well.
5. Personalised care: Respected the client’s wish to remain at home and maintained his dignity. And continued care for the original client, with the knowledge of all he had been through – complete continuity.
6. Compassionate end-of-life care: Home Instead provided respectful post-mortem care, including washing and dressing the client according to the client’s wishes.

These case studies illustrate Home Instead’s commitment to personalised, compassionate care that adapts to each client’s unique circumstances and supports their desire to remain in their own homes. Our approach emphasises dignity, independence and quality of life, while also providing essential support to family members.

Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham’s Range of Support at Home Services

We offer a range of services that go beyond traditional care, including:

• Medication management 
• Arthritis and mobility assistance
• Nutrition and hydration monitoring
• Postoperative and recovery assistance
• Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer and other long term health conditions care 

These services enable our clients to receive professional support in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for hospital visits and admissions.

Supporting NHS Goals and Reducing Pressure

Our services align perfectly with the NHS’s five-year plan to manage long-term conditions in community settings, particularly in people’s homes. By providing skilled care and health monitoring, we:

1. Reduce unnecessary hospital admissions
2. Free up hospital beds for those who truly need them
3. Decrease the strain on NHS resources
4. Improve quality of life for clients who prefer to stay at home
5. Provide continuity of care in a familiar environment.

At Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham, we’re proud to play a vital role in supporting our clients’ health and wellbeing at home. Our case studies demonstrate how our attentive care and health monitoring can prevent hospitalisations and improve outcomes. By choosing Home Instead, you’re not just getting care – you’re getting a partner in maintaining your health and independence at home.