Age UK - West Cumbria

Project Title: Well at Home - Care to Move Project

Funding Received: £6210 (Phase 4: 1 April 22 - 31 March 23)

Project Outline:

We work with older people aged 55+ across a range of services. This project is focused on people aged 65+ who have comorbidity or a level of frailty that places them in limbo between hospital discharge and regaining fuller independence in their homes. We currently provide transitional support in the home to aid independent recovery post discharge from hospital.

The impact of Covid on this group of people has certainly been evident in that their resilience is lower due to prolonged periods of isolation and inactivity during each lockdown. We have seen significant and recurring traits amongst these people that require different forms of intervention.

Upon coming home from hospital, we have encountered people who after a crisis point are deconditioned by their experience of hospitalization and care. They are less well equipped to resume independent living, and self-care habits often suffer.

The investment is about changing the culture of our existing work with the backing of the statutory partners involved for years to come- demonstrating through existing channels that this type of delivery works and will be sustainable for future funded cycles.

The programme to develop a core of 6 staff (each with their own specialisms) who can champion Live Longer Better principles (as guided by the work of Sir Muir Gray - increasing activity and fitness, developing a positive attitude towards ageing and improving ‘brainability’) in working with frailty and home-based recovery. Funding will deliver the initial training, and then buy some extra client facing time with clients as a means of developing bespoke solutions for clients and then.