A shocking report has revealed that if elderly people received better care at home, nearly a million emergency hospital admissions could be avoided each year. Age UK has warned that the health and care system is failing to meet the needs of an aging population, leading to a “hidden crisis” behind closed doors. The charity emphasized that poor provision of services in the community results in health problems going unnoticed until they escalate into major issues.
One of the key issues highlighted by Age UK is the lack of proper preventative care in the community, leading to many hospital readmissions within just 30 days of being discharged. This lack of care also poses risks to the mental sharpness and mobility of elderly patients as they may become trapped on hospital wards for extended periods while waiting to be discharged.
The Age UK review uncovered a concerning trend of reduced long-term care for older people, with 36,000 fewer individuals receiving care from their local authority since 2017/18. This reduction is due to the slashing of district nursing posts. As a result, approximately 1.6 million adults aged 65 and older have unmet care and support needs, impacting their independence and basic daily activities such as eating, washing, and dressing.
The report also highlighted concerns regarding the accessibility of GPs for older patients, with 45% expressing worries about accessing their primary care physician when they fall ill. Age UK is advocating for a shift from the current over-reliance on hospitals to a “home first” approach, which prioritizes access to physiotherapists, doctors, and nurses through primary care. The charity also stressed the importance of prevention and early intervention to enable older individuals to maintain their well-being and independence at home for longer periods.
In 2021/22 alone, there were 4.8 million A&E attendances by older people, with a 40% increase in the rate among those over 80 between 2012/13 and 2021/22. Latest figures suggest that around 855,000 of these admissions could have been avoided in 2019 with timely and appropriate care. Once admitted, older patients tend to have longer hospital stays and a higher likelihood of experiencing delayed discharge compared to younger patients.
During last winter, between 13,000 and 14,000 medically fit patients were left stranded in hospital on any given day, a significant increase from 4,500 during the same period in 2018/19. Additionally, once discharged, one in six patients over the age of 75 is caught in a “terrible vicious circle” and readmitted within 30 days. The reduction in the number of nursing posts in social care and district nurses exacerbates this issue, with a 24% and 12% decrease respectively between 2015 and 2020.
Ruthe Isden, health influencing program director at Age UK, highlighted the crisis faced by older people, explaining that they do not receive the necessary help, which results in deteriorating health and avoidable crises such as falls and infections. Despite these challenges, Age UK noted that some areas of the country are taking action to enhance community care, including the development of falls services, hospital at home services, virtual wards, and integrated frailty services. However, access to these services varies, highlighting the existence of a postcode lottery.
With 10.5 million people aged 65 and over in England, 74% of whom have at least one long-term condition (rising to 86% among those over 85), the impact of the pandemic has exacerbated the struggles faced by many elderly individuals due to increased isolation.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, called for the government to develop a Social Care Workforce Plan, similar to the recently published plan for the NHS, outlining strategies to recruit and retain more staff in social care. In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesman highlighted the government’s commitment to adult social care reform, with an allocation of up to £700 million over the next two years, including a £250 million investment in the workforce. The spokesman also emphasized the allocation of £1.6 billion to support timely and safe discharge from hospitals into the community and the establishment of integrated care systems to improve coordination between health and care providers.
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