Pioneering scheme to cut bed blocking

Homeward Bound offers older people recovering from hospital treatment intensive short-term rehabilitation in specially converted sheltered accommodation.

The scheme at Glynville Court, Colehill, - the first of its kind in the region - is a partnership between East Dorset Housing Association, Dorset Social Services and the South and East Dorset Primary Care Trust.

Allenbourn School pupil Kathryn Hindess, 12, who thought up the name Homeward Bound, cut a ribbon to mark the occasion.

The flats have been specially converted and occupational therapists and physiotherapists visit them regularly.

One flat has facilities for a carer to be there on call round the clock.

EDHA's supported housing manager Irene Corrigan said: "It's much better for older people who need rehabilitation to be receiving extra care in a sheltered flat rather than to be unnecessarily occupying a hospital bed.

"Delayed discharges are an expensive and very difficult problem because not only are older patients blocking beds which could be used for other people but hospital is not the best place for them to be.

"The idea of Homeward Bound is to give these people up to six weeks of intensive rehabilitation to help them become independent enough to go back home.

"It should reduce the number of older people having to go into residential care and will also mean that they need less home care once they are better."

So far, seven out of the 31 flats at Glynville Court have been converted for Homeward Bound and it is hoped to extend the scheme to other sheltered flats complexes in other areas.