A NEW NHS community service has been launched in the Forest to help people with complex care needs to continue living in their own homes.

The number of older residents still living at home has increased dramatically over the past few years, and within this rising population more are developing multiple, long-term health conditions, such as dementia and diabetes, leading to increasing care needs.

The Gloucestershire Care Services Complex Care at Home (CC@H) team supports people with their wellbeing, physical, mental and social health needs.

It helps clients improve their resilience, poor health and limited knowledge on self-management techniques and can help delay the onset of any complications which may develop.

Matron Gail Pasquall, who heads the team, explained that a lot of people were falling through gaps between social and health services.

“This is happening especially when they don’t meet the criteria for social or nursing care, and because of this are becoming more dependent on relatives or spouses, who may themselves be older and becoming increasingly frail,” she said.

The multidisciplinary CC@H team provides 10 to 12 weeks of support, which could be through a registered nurse, registered mental health nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or wellbeing coordinator as well as colleagues working in the social care sector.

“We aim to work and care for people living with complex health needs in the community who may previously have been frequently attending GP and/or urgent care services,” said Gail.

“We provide a service that puts people at the centre of any decisions relating to their care, and supports them with goal setting and decision-making.

“We have found that using this approach results in a reduction in admissions to hospital services and can delay any deterioration in a person’s health and well-being.”

Working as part of the Trusts Integrated Community Teams (ICTs), the Complex Care at Home service takes referrals from GPs, other specialist services, Gloucestershire hospitals NHSFT, social care, and voluntary partners.