New Care Unit To Speed-Up Hospital Discharges

A new residential care setting in Barry that provides a bridge between hospitals and homes has been officially opened this week by Cllr Bronwen Brooks the Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for Housing, Social Care and Health and Maria Battle, chair of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new reablement unit is based at the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Ty Dyfan residential home in Barry and provides six short term ‘intermediate care beds’ for people who are ready to be discharged from hospital but who require therapy or support before they can return home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also at the opening was Leah Manley who was the unit’s first resident when it opened at the end of 2016. Leah, who took centre stage to cut the ribbon and officially declare the unit open, was supported at the unit after being admitted to hospital following a fall. After completing a bespoke reablement programme she was able to return home to care for her husband and continue to live independently. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Funded through the Intermediate Care Fund, support on the unit is provided by a multidisciplinary team that consists of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s care staff and Cardiff and Vale UHB’s Community Resource Service therapists. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Bronwen Brooks, said: “Our aim is to provide a bridge between hospital discharge and home for those people who require a little extra time in a supportive environment so as to regain their independence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council’s in-house care team are here 24/7 to support residents and help get them home as soon as possible. Following an assessment they work with the resident to develop a reablement programme and then closely with the therapists to deliver this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By successfully providing a reablement facility we are now working effectively to tackle the issue of bed blocking that is proving so problematic across Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents at the reablement unit receive daily physio and occupational therapy sessions as well as health promotion talks, all of which are designed to build confidence as well as aid a return to physical fitness. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Maria Battle, said: “This reablement unit is a welcome facility in the Vale of Glamorgan which will help get people back home and into the local community much more quickly. Being involved in their individual therapeutic plans and being supported, will not only increase their independence but also their confidence and wellbeing. This also means we can free up hospital beds so that we can care for more people and keep them well.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​