The Home First Approach: A New Way to Think About Your Stay in Hospital  

Have you ever asked yourself where is the best place to recover?

You might be surprised to hear that it’s not a hospital. That’s why new Welsh Government guidance sets out a ‘home first’ approach to support people after a hospital stay.  

Once medical treatment in hospital is finished, home is often the best place to recover. Home could be a care home, your own home or a friend or family member’s house.

Thinking about your return home as soon as you enter the hospital is especially important for older people. Staying in hospital when you’re well enough to go home can result in deconditioning, which is when your physical and mental health get worse due to long periods of time off your feet and in a hospital bed.

If you have a long stay in hospital, it’s important to keep getting up and dressed if you’re able to, and using things you would normally have at home like your glasses, hearing aid, watch and diary to prevent deconditioning.

Hospital to a Healthier Home

At Care & Repair, we understand that going home following a hospital stay might be a challenge. That’s why our Hospital to a Healthier Home service works with patients who are well enough to leave but can’t because their home is not safe or suitable for their recovery. This might mean you need adaptations like handrails to help you get around the house following a fall or a stroke, and your home might need repairs to prevent you from getting ill again from things like damp and mould.

Often doctors and nurses will refer patients to us who they know might need some adaptations or repairs, but you can also tell ward staff about us and that you’d like our support. We can put the adaptations you need in place before you come home and then do a follow-up check to see how you’re getting on and if you need anything else. This might be:

• A welfare benefits check to make sure you’re claiming what’s yours

• Additional adaptations if you’ve found getting around tricky

• Practical information and advice on how to prevent a fall at home

• Information on local contractors and support

Since 2019, Hospital to a Healthier Home has supported over 21,400 patients to leave hospital more quickly into safer, accessible homes. In total, we estimate we have saved the Welsh NHS around 131,000 bed days. Thinking ‘home first’ helps others who are waiting for a bed and improves the overall flow of people through the hospital for planned and unplanned care.

Contact Us

If you would like more information or to request help from our Hospital to a Healthier Home service, please contact your local Care & Repair Agency.

You can find out more about Hospital to a Healthier Home here.

You can read the Welsh Government Home First guidance here.