Convalescence, Rehabilitation and Respite Care

Convalescence

The term “convalescent” is defined as a person recovering from illness. In a climate of long hospital waiting lists and delayed hospital discharges, hospital stays for many people are frequently so short that the recovery period has barely started before they return home. Obviously an acute hospital is not the ideal environment to recover from an operation or illness but the harsh reality of returning home can be a very difficult time, particularly for the older person.

Whilst most acute hospitals now have rehabilitation programmes (intermediate care), limited resources frequently means that many will not pass strict eligibility criteria for these. Clearly there is a difference between the older person in need of active rehabilitation and the older person who simply needs a little support whilst regaining his or her strength. Sadly this is an area of care that is not adequately addressed in our current health and social care system.

The main sources of support for the older person in these circumstance are likely to be:

Family member in the older person’s home
A short stay at a family member’s home
Visiting support from family, neighbours and friends
Employment of carer/companion through a Care Agency
Convalescent stay in a Care Home
Local voluntary organistaions

Convalescent Homes are few and far between and the older person may struggle to find a short term vacancy in a Care Home at the time when support is required.

However, there are a number of Convalscent Homes, Care Homes and Care Homes with Nursing associated with particular professions or charities who are more likely to be sympathetic to the particular needs of their members.

This level of short-term care is not generally funded by either the health authority or the local authority.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is about restoring an individual to fullest capacity, physically, mentally and socially. It requires a team of people working together with the individual and his or her family. This team may include nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Their combined expertise should promote recovery and maximise independence.

Depending on the nature of the older person’s condition, within the NHS they may be offered “intermediate care” on discharge from hospital. This is a short rehabilitation programme usually lasting for no more than six weeks. Suitability for this programme will have been measured against eligibilty criteria. It will usually involve members of the multi-disciplinary team planning or supervising appropriate care, most commonly in the older person’s home or a Community Hospital. If at the end of this six week period the older person is assessed as requiring ongoing care, they may be referred to social services depending on their own wishes and financial status.

If the older person’s condition requires specific ongoing therapeutic treatment such as speech therapy or physiotherapy, for example following a stroke, this may continue on an outpatient basis for longer periods.

This level of care is generally free of charge to the older person.

Respite Care

Respite Care is defined as temporary relief. It may be provided for the older person or their carer and may take the following forms:

A short break away from daily routine for the older person (holiday).
Increased support in the home to allow the carer to pursue their own interests.
A short stay in a Care Home to enable the carer to take a longer break.

It may be for as little as an hour per week, for a day, or a week or two depending on individual circumstances.

There are a number of organistions who offer help and support in this way.

If the older person has funds in excess of £23,250 in England (£23,500 in Scotland, £22,500 in Wales and £23,250 in Northern Ireland).

However, under the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995, a carer who provides “regular and substantial care” for a relative, partner, friend or neighbour has a legal right to their own separate assessment by social services. If the carer is assessed as needing respite care this can be arranged by them but may still be subject to charging, dependent on the financial status of the older person, not the carer.

If you require further assistance or would like to speak to an Independent Care Adviser please call 0800 137 669