Spotting Early Warning Signs: Preventing Hospitalisation with Proactive Home Care in Taunton
Early warning signs are crucial indicators that help us deliver timely, effective care. Find out more on how we use systems and procedures to provide the best possible support
At Home Instead Taunton & West Somerset, our goal is to keep our clients safe, healthy, and comfortable in their own homes. One of the most effective ways we do this is by identifying early warning signs of health deterioration. Acting early allows us to prevent crises, avoid unnecessary hospitalisations, and ensure that our clients receive the care they need before a situation escalates.
The SCORES Approach: Empowering Our Care Professionals
We use a tool equivalent to the RESTORE2 system called SCORES, which empowers our Care Professionals to:
- Spot early signs of deterioration by keeping a close eye on any changes in the client’s health or behaviour.
- Raise alarms when appropriate so that action can be taken quickly, reducing the risk of a health emergency.
- Prevent crises by addressing small issues before they become major problems.
- Keep our clients safe and in their own homes by providing the right care at the right time.
By using the SCORES system, our Care Professionals can identify when something might not be right and act on it. This could mean making an extra effort to communicate any changes to the client’s family or suggesting a medical follow-up.
Incident Reporting
At Home Instead Taunton, we take incident reporting seriously, with a commitment to a 24-hour turnaround for action. This swift response time ensures that any incidents affecting our clients’ care or safety are promptly addressed. Whether it’s a health-related concern, an environmental hazard, or an unexpected event, our team works quickly to investigate, take necessary corrective actions, and communicate with all relevant parties. This proactive approach not only helps to prevent recurring issues but also provides reassurance to our clients and their families that their wellbeing is our top priority.
Clinical Frailty Score and RAG Rating
Our team also uses the Clinical Frailty Score to assess clients’ overall condition. If a client has a score of 5 or 6, it triggers a referral to a frailty clinic. This helps us ensure that clients get specialised input when they need it, supporting them to maintain their health at home.
We also use a RAG (Red-Amber-Green) rating system to prioritise clients who might be most at risk. This helps our team focus on those who require the most attention and support, ensuring we are constantly evaluating our clients’ needs.
Programmatic Care – checklist for dementia
Our Programmatic Dementia Care approach is dedicated to maximising quality of life by providing personalised, tailored support for every individual living with dementia. To ensure the highest quality of care, we use a comprehensive 39-point checklist that covers essential elements like continuity of care, specialised training, nutrition, and medical and social support. Each aspect is discussed with clients and their families, allowing us to create a care plan that fits their unique needs and circumstances.
Crisis Prevention Tools: First Aid Kits and Emergency Support
We are committed to supporting our clients in emergencies. Our Care Professionals use various tools, including:
- First Aid Kits to ensure immediate response during minor emergencies.
- Urine bottles – Incorporating the use of urine sample bottles as part of our early warning system is a vital aspect of the care we provide at Home Instead in Taunton. All of our Care Professionals carry urine sample bottles in their bags, allowing them to quickly respond to potential urinary infections. Early treatment can help prevent hospital admissions and keep our clients safe at home.
- Message in a Bottle (Lions Bottle), RESPECT forms, and Patient Summaries—these are kept in clients’ fridges for emergency services to easily access vital information when needed.
These measures ensure that critical information is available at a moment’s notice, facilitating quick, informed decision-making in emergencies.
Continuity of Care for Early Intervention
Ensuring continuity of care is key to spotting early warning signs. When the same Care Professional team consistently works with a client, they develop a deep understanding of the client’s usual demeanour, allowing them to notice subtle changes more easily. This consistent care also builds trust, making clients more comfortable to express when they aren’t feeling well.
Early warning signs are crucial indicators that help us deliver timely, effective care. Through our SCORES system, continuity of care, and team collaboration, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our clients, keeping them safe and healthy in their own homes.
