Help for elderly at home after hospital stay

Mr Brown said the plan forms part of the Government’s ambition to build a National Care Service. Details of how it might be funded will be revealed in a forthcoming white paper.

It could benefit tens of thousands of people who end up in care when, with proper support, they could stay at home for longer, said the Prime Minister.

The Government’s Personal Care at Home Bill, going through Parliament, already includes plans to extend rights to support to an estimated 280,000 elderly people in greatest need.

In a speech to the King’s Fund health think-tank in London, Mr Brown said he wanted to go beyond this and provide “reablement” and rehabilitation support to over-65s in England.

“This means that to help with the transition back home after a hospital stay, a residential care stay, or simply a fall or accident, people in every community will have access to intensive support services, for between four and six weeks,” the Prime Minister said.

“And the vast majority of beneficiaries will be older people on middle incomes or with lower incomes who struggle daily with the costs and problems of living with frailty and disability.”