Preventing Hospital Readmissions with Home Care in Dorchester
Home care in Dorchester helps prevent hospital readmissions with personalised post-discharge support.
Could Home Care Be the Key to Reducing Hospital Readmissions?
Returning home after a hospital stay should support recovery, with the right care helping to prevent readmission. Many people—particularly older individuals or those with long-term health conditions—face challenges in managing medication, mobility, and daily tasks, which can increase the risk of readmission.
At Home Instead Dorchester, we provide high-quality home care that supports recovery, reduces readmissions, and promotes long-term well-being.
Why Reducing Hospital Readmissions Matters
Frequent hospital readmissions highlight the need for ongoing support, impacting both individuals and healthcare services. By avoiding hospital readmissions, you can help promote:
- A higher quality of life.
- Reduced risk of infections and medication errors.
- Improved recovery and rehabilitation.
- A smoother recovery process for individuals and their families.
For the NHS and local healthcare providers, reducing readmissions means fewer prolonged hospital stays and a more efficient allocation of resources. The key to achieving this lies in personalised support, proactive healthcare management, and reliable community-based care.
How Home Care Helps Prevent Hospital Readmissions
Home Instead Dorchester offers professional, personalised home care services that help people recover safely in the comfort of their own homes. By providing consistent care, ongoing monitoring, and tailored support, we significantly reduce the risk of hospital readmissions. Here’s how:
Personalised Care Plans
Every individual has unique health needs, making one-size-fits-all solutions ineffective. Our care plans are designed with each person’s condition, lifestyle, and preferences in mind. By identifying potential risks and addressing them proactively, we help individuals manage their health effectively at home.
Medication Support
Medication mismanagement is one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions. Our care professionals assist with:
- Medication reminders and adherence.
- Organising prescriptions to prevent missed or incorrect doses.
- Liaising with healthcare professionals to ensure medications are reviewed and adjusted when needed.
Ongoing Monitoring and Support
Post-hospital care doesn’t end once someone is discharged. We provide regular visits and remote check-ins to monitor recovery, identify concerns early, and offer reassurance to both clients and their families. Our close collaboration with local healthcare professionals ensures a seamless transition from hospital to home.
Supporting Recovery in Dorset
The NHS in Dorset is actively working to reduce hospital readmissions through improved community care. Local initiatives, such as the Population Health Management (PHM) Fellowship, analyse why people return to hospital and implement strategies to support recovery at home.
Understanding Readmission Causes
People often return to hospital because of:
- Medical complications or worsening conditions.
- Lack of home support for daily living activities.
- Difficulty accessing community healthcare services.
Through our work with local health professionals, Home Instead Dorchester helps address these issues by offering comprehensive support at home.
The Role of Community Support Services
Community-based care plays a vital role in preventing readmissions. Our services include:
- Reablement care – Helping individuals regain independence with mobility and daily activities.
- Companionship and social support – Reducing isolation, which is linked to poor health outcomes.
- Home assistance – Support with meals, errands, and maintaining a safe living environment.
- Coordinating follow-up care – Ensuring clients attend GP or hospital appointments and adhere to treatment plans.
By integrating these services into post-discharge care, we help individuals regain confidence and avoid preventable hospital visits.
Anticipatory Care: Preventing Health Declines Before They Happen
A proactive approach to healthcare is key to reducing readmissions. Anticipatory care focuses on identifying individuals at risk of deterioration and providing early intervention before a crisis occurs.
How Anticipatory Care Works
Using healthcare data and regular assessments, we:
- Identify those most likely to be readmitted.
- Assess gaps in post-discharge care.
- Implement personalised support measures.
This early intervention ensures clients receive the right care at the right time, preventing avoidable complications and hospital visits.
Acute Hospital @ Home: A New Approach to Care in Dorset
Dorset County Hospital has introduced the Acute Hospital @ Home (AH@H) service, which allows individuals to receive hospital-level care in their own homes. This initiative has already proven highly effective in improving comfort, reducing hospital stays, and saving healthcare costs.
How AH@H Works
The service provides:
- Nursing assessments and specialist consultations.
- Wound care and surgical drain management.
- Intravenous (IV) therapies, including antibiotics and diuretics.
- Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
- Nutritional and dietary support.
Patients who meet the criteria for home-based care are referred to the AH@H team, allowing them to recover in familiar surroundings with professional supervision.
The Benefits of Home-Based Hospital Care
- Greater comfort – Patients recover better at home.
- Fewer hospital stays – This service has saved eight hospital bed days per day, doubling its initial target.
- Cost efficiency – The cost per patient per day is around £87, far lower than traditional inpatient care.
- Positive patient feedback – 100% of surveyed patients said they would recommend the service.
The Role of Telemedicine in Elderly Care
Another innovative approach to reducing hospital readmissions is Immedicare, a video-enabled healthcare service connecting care homes with NHS clinical teams. This system provides 24/7 access to specialist healthcare advice, reducing unnecessary emergency admissions.
How Immedicare Supports Fall Prevention and Management
- Care home residents who experience a fall receive immediate remote assessments from specialist nurses.
- Over 83% of falls-related cases are managed within the care home, avoiding hospital admission.
- In the past four years, this service has saved nearly £10 million in ambulance and hospital costs.
For individuals receiving care at home, telemedicine can provide similar benefits, offering instant access to professional advice and reassurance when needed.
The Future of Home-Based Healthcare in Dorchester
Home Instead Dorchester is committed to working alongside local health services and community organisations to:
- Strengthen links between NHS services and home care providers.
- Expand anticipatory care to support at-risk individuals earlier.
- Use data-driven decision-making to tailor support services more effectively.
- Increase public awareness about available home care options.
By continuing to develop home-based healthcare solutions, we can support healthier recoveries and prevent avoidable hospital readmissions across Dorset.
Choose Home Instead Dorchester for Reliable Home Care
If you or a loved one is recovering from a hospital stay and needs extra support at home, Home Instead Dorchester is here to help. Our dedicated team provides personalised care to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home, reducing the risk of readmission and promoting long-term well-being.
📞 Contact Us Today Visit our website to learn more about our services or call us to discuss your care needs.
📍 Home Instead Dorchester
📞 01305 239 289
📧 [email protected]
🌍www.homeinstead.co.uk/dorchester/
Let’s work together to support healthier, happier lives at home.
Areas We Serve
Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Sherborne, Cerne Abbas, Charminster, Puddletown, Maiden Newton, Beaminster, Abbotsbury, West Bay, Portland
BH15 4, BH16 5, BH16 ,6 BH17 7, BH18 8, BH18 9, BH19 1, BH19 2, BH19, 3 BH20 4, BH20 5, BH20 6, BH20 7, DT1 1, DT1 2, DT1 3, DT2 7, DT2 8, DT2 9, DT3 4, DT3 5, DT3 6, DT4 0, DT4 7, DT4 8, DT4 9, DT5 1, DT5 2
31 High W St, Dorchester DT1 1UP, UK