Personalised care at home: Anne’s experience with HomeLink Healthcare

Anne was admitted to hospital after experiencing delirium and confusion, a significant change from her usual independent lifestyle. Before her hospital stay, she lived with her daughter in a terraced house, managing her daily activities such as washing, dressing, preparing meals, and taking her medication with minimal support. Although Anne had some hearing loss and needed glasses for reading, she maintained her independence with the help of a perching stool, commode, and frame.

After her hospital admission, it was clear that she would need extra support at home to help her recover. The hospital team referred Anne to HomeLink Healthcare for a short-term care package aimed at helping her regain her independence.

The HomeLink team carried out an initial assessment, which highlighted that Anne needed four visits a day to assist with personal care, medication prompts, meal and drink preparation, and to encourage mobility.

At the start of her care, Anne’s Rockwood frailty score indicated moderate frailty, but with support from our team, she showed steady improvements during her recovery. Over a period of six days, she received 22 visits, and each encounter recorded progress – new abilities, reaching goals, and gradually requiring less assistance from the team. By the end of her care, Anne’s Rockwood frailty score had improved by 20%, showing a significant recovery. Her mBarthel score also increased, moving from 87 (moderate dependency) to 95 (slight dependency), and her EQ-5D-5L score improved from 80 to 100, reflecting her enhanced quality of life.

Anne and her daughter both remarked on how pleased they were with her progress. By the time the final two visits took place, Anne was moving around on her own, independently managing her washing, dressing, meal preparation, and medications, with minimal assistance from her daughter.

In mutual agreement with Anne and her daughter, the visits were gradually reduced, and an end date for the service was agreed. During our final visit, Anne and her daughter both expressed their gratitude for the service and the support that helped Anne recover and return to her usual routine. 

Anne’s story illustrates the importance of personalised, home-based care in empowering patients to regain their independence. With the right level of support and guidance, Anne was able to return to her everyday life in just a short period of time. Her experience highlights how HomeLink’s approach – focused on tailored, patient-centred care – can help individuals recover more comfortably at home, avoiding extended stays in hospital and reducing reliance on long-term services.