Circle to help hospital patients back home
HMR Circle has launched two new services to help older people in the borough, and beyond.
The group works with residents over 50 in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale by running services such as sports and crafts groups and a digital support service.
Now, the Circle is looking to launch a ‘home from hospital’ service, employ a practical helper and expand its services full-time into Bury.
On the drawing board for a number of years, the ‘home from hospital’ service will aim to reduce readmissions by helping elderly patients settle into life back at home after a stay in hospital.
Circle director Mark Wynn said: “What you tend to get is older people that are well enough to leave hospital but the getting home and settling back in is problematic.
“It can be something simple like needing the heating switched on or they haven’t got any milk in the fridge. Those small tasks mean people don’t settle back at home and they’re back at hospital, because they’ve got a cold or are malnourished.”
“The little silly things in life that get you through are causing readmissions.
“Part of the task is to reduce readmissions by offering low-level support delivered by our volunteers and staff members.”
As part of the launch of the service HMR Circle is looking to recruit a home from hospital coordinator.
“Hopefully we make it a success and require the funding to continue it in the future,” added Mark.
“Hopefully it will evolve and develop into a key part of the health service locally and support older people to get home from hospital and engage with the wider community.”
As well as the home from hospital service
HMR Circle is looking to expand full time into Bury by recruiting a Bury Circle Coordinator.
Having already expanded with a ‘microcircle’ in Prestwich, Mark says the long-term goal is to have a circle service, like the one in Rochdale, in all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.
He said: “We’re excited to launch a fully-fledged version in Bury.
“It’ll take time to get to the scale we’re at in Rochdale.
“Hopefully we’ll replicate the success we’ve had here in Bury.”
Finally, HMR Circle is looking to recruit a new practical helper, after the previous one had to step down. The practical helper service has been a longstanding part of HMR Circle and helps its members by undertaking small practical jobs such as painting, moving boxes or gardening. Mark said: “It’s a service we’ve done from the start. The demand is there so we need to recruit somebody to look after that part of what we do and build it up as well.”