Is a “temporary” respite stay unintentionally turning into a permanent move? With the right rehabilitation support, a return home is often achievable.
It is a scenario we see often. A loved one is admitted to hospital after a fall or illness, but they aren’t quite ready to return to their own house immediately. The sensible decision is often to move them into residential care or a nursing home for temporary respite care.
The goal is usually to provide a safe harbour where they can build their strength up before returning home. However, families often find that their loved one’s mobility stagnates during this period.
This is rarely the fault of the care home. Care environments are designed primarily for safety, comfort, and support. Residents are looked after wonderfully, but the environment is not naturally set up for the intensive, personalised rehabilitation required to regain independence.
Without a structured exercise plan, elderly people can succumb to deconditioning. They walk less, sit more, and lose the habit of managing personal care. Suddenly, the “temporary” stay drifts, and you may be told that a transition back home is no longer feasible.
But discharge planning is not just about current ability; it is about potential.
Key Takeaways
- Temporary respite stays can sometimes lead to ‘deconditioning’ because the environment is designed for comfort rather than activity.
- Returning to a familiar home environment often significantly improves an older person’s quality of life and mental wellbeing.
- A successful return is possible with a comprehensive plan involving Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and collaboration with care staff.
In This Article
The Benefits of Returning Home
Why aim for a discharge? Because for many, there’s simply nowhere better than home. Returning to a familiar environment can have a profound impact on an older person’s motivation.
Being back in familiar surroundings allows for:
- Independence: The “positive pressure” of needing to make a cup of tea or walk to the bathroom helps maintain mobility.
- Connection: Being close to established neighbours and community.
- Comfort: Resuming hobbies and routines which are difficult to replicate in a communal facility.
Restoring comfort and independence.
The Challenge of Comfort
In a care facility, the priority is to look after residents. Staff are often incredibly helpful, assisting with dressing, washing, or meal delivery to ensure the resident is rested. However, this kindness can unintentionally remove the daily challenges that keep an older person mobile. Without the need to do things for themselves, they can lose the ability to do so.
How We Support Returning from a Care Home
Discharge planning requires a bridge between the care home and the private residence. It isn’t just about booking transport; it involves a clinical team looking at the “whole person.” This is where Medella’s private Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (OT) proves vital.
1. Reversing Deconditioning
Our Physiotherapists can visit the care home to work directly with your loved one before discharge. We work alongside the care home staff to focus on reversing physical decline, using elderly rehabilitation techniques to build the strength needed to manage transfers and mobility independently.
2. Preparing the Home
Our OTs focus on the destination. We visit the property to assess the bedroom, bathroom, and access points. We often recommend home adaptations—such as grab rails, bed levers, or stairlifts—to ensure the home environment supports safety rather than hindering it.
3. Feasibility & Funding
We help you navigate the logistics. Whether you are using a care agency for visiting care or considering live-in care, we advise on what is clinically safe. We can also provide the factual reports required if you are liaising with social services regarding care needs assessments.
Building the Right Care Service
A successful return often requires a package of care, at least initially, to support the transition from 24-hour support to independence.
- Visiting Care: Carers visit 1-4 times a day for specific tasks like medication or washing.
- Live-in Care: A carer lives in the home for full-time support and companionship.
We work with high-quality, CQC-registered agencies across Hampshire and Dorset to ensure that any home care put in place supports the rehabilitation goals we have set.
A Checklist for Families
If you are moving a loved one back home, use this checklist to ensure you are ready:
- Physical Rehab: Have they practiced walking and transfers enough to manage the specific layout of their own home?
- Environment: Has an OT checked that the home environment is set up to prevent falls?
- Care Support: Have you engaged experienced carers for the first few weeks to bridge the gap?
- Health Conditions: Is there a plan for managing ongoing issues like dementia or advanced care needs?
The information in this article is intended for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP, physiotherapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
We provide compassionate care and expert therapy to help older adults transition from residential care back to their own homes. We offer our home services across Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire.
Contact Naomi and the team today to discuss your situation.
