A Solution to Falls, Hospital Admissions, and Loneliness
In recent years, the impact of reduced funding in adult social care has become increasingly evident. As budgets shrink, the pressure on hospitals rises, leaving elderly individuals at greater risk of falls, prolonged hospital stays, and increased loneliness. At Home Instead, we believe that investing in high-quality social care is not just a moral responsibility but also an economic necessity.
Austerity in social care is a false economy. Every pound cut leads to higher costs in the NHS, delayed discharges, and increased hospital admissions. Without adequate social care support, older individuals are more likely to suffer from falls—events that often lead to hospital visits and long recovery periods that could have been prevented with proper assistance at home.
At Home Instead, our tailored care services are designed to reduce these risks. Our caregivers provide assistance with mobility, personal care, and companionship, ensuring older adults remain safe and independent at home. Beyond physical well-being, social isolation significantly affects mental health. Regular visits from trained caregivers can prevent the deterioration of health conditions and reduce reliance on medical services.
Social care is not a luxury—it’s a necessity that keeps people safe at home and out of hospital. Prevention is always cheaper than cure. By investing in social care, we ensure individuals receive the necessary support before their conditions worsen, ultimately reducing avoidable hospital admissions. Every delayed discharge costs the NHS up to £400 a day—yet quality home care services like those provided by Home Instead come at a fraction of that cost.
We must stop treating social care as an afterthought—without it, our hospitals will remain overwhelmed. A well-funded social care system is the frontline of healthcare—preventing hospital admissions before they happen.
One of the major challenges in social care is the undervaluation of care workers. Paying a fair price for outstanding care would not only attract and retain skilled professionals but also ensure better outcomes for those receiving care.
At Home Instead, we champion fair wages and professional development opportunities for Care Professionals. When carers are fairly compensated, they can provide higher-quality support, reducing the risk of falls, promoting independence, and enhancing social engagement for elderly individuals. By ensuring fair wages, we also combat high turnover rates in the sector, which disrupts continuity of care and diminishes trust between caregivers and those they support.
Beyond medical needs, social care plays a crucial role in addressing loneliness among older people. At Home Instead, we understand that emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. Our Care Professionals provide companionship, assist with community activities, and create meaningful connections with clients to combat isolation.
No one should have to wait in a hospital bed simply because there’s no care available at home. That’s not just inefficient—it’s inhumane. Through our personalised care plans, we ensure that older adults have the support they need to remain engaged and connected with their communities.
We must ask ourselves—are we willing to spend billions on emergency hospital care, or will we finally invest in the social care system that prevents it? Every delay in social care funding is a delay in patient recovery and a strain on the NHS. The time to act is now.
The cost of inaction is greater than the cost of investment. Social care funding isn’t just a moral issue—it’s an economic necessity. If we truly value dignity in old age, we must fund social care as if it were part of the NHS—because in reality, it already is.
At Home Instead, we are committed to providing high-quality, person-centred care that allows older adults to live with dignity, independence, and companionship. It’s time to pay a fair price for outstanding care. By doing so, we reduce hospital admissions, prevent avoidable falls, and combat the growing epidemic of loneliness. Only then can we build a care system that works for everyone—one that values dignity, independence, and community well-being.