Elderly spend weeks too long in hospitals due to lack of housing, Age UK warns
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Vulnerable elderly patients are waiting weeks in hospital, costing the NHS millions of pounds, because of a lack of suitable housing, Age UK has warned.
The charity said patients who needed home adaptations such as grab rails and ramps were having to wait on average 27 extra days to go home from hospital.
Keeping a patient in hospital costs the NHS more money than securing them safe care at home. Last year, a total of 44,000 days in hospital at a cost of £11.2m were caused by delays in adapting a home, Age UK said.
In a new report, the charity has called on the Government to guarantee that all new homes are built to the “lifetime homes standard” so that they can be easily adapted to the needs of elderly and disabled residents.
Over the next decade, the number of ‘pensioner households’ is expected to rise to 13 million.
Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said it was “worrying” that so many older people were living in unsuitable homes.
“It’s time we woke up to the fact that good housing is central to supporting older people to be independent, fit and well,” she said. “Yes, we need a much wider range of specialist housing for older people but as most prefer to remain where they are it is crucial we do more to make all our mainstream housing fit for the purpose of accommodating our ageing population.”
The charity also recommended that all older patients are offered an automatic assessment of their home when then they make contact with health services.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments