NEW figures from Age UK reveal a rising social care crisis, with cuts to older people's services leaving them "trapped" in hospital while they wait for support.

According to the charity, more than two million bed days were lost to the NHS between June 2010 and March 2015 because of people waiting too long for the right care. Most are aged 65 and over - and a staggering £669 million is spent keeping them in hospital.

From April 2014 to March 2015 shortages in community health and social care services meant the NHS wasted thousands of bed-days, with many patients waiting for a place in a residential or nursing home, or help from social care workers or district nurses to enable them to return home. There is also a wait for home adaptations, such as rails and stairlifts.

Age UK says the average number of patients kept in hospital unnecessarily increased by 19per cent between 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Since 2010 there have been £2.4 billion cuts from social care budgets for older people, largely as a result of reduced local government funding, leaving local authorities finding it increasingly difficult to provide the social care needed.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said older people are being "trapped" in hospital in rising numbers, and without decent social care when discharged, they are less likely to recover and more likely to be re-admitted.

Help is at hand in Bradford, with a free service provided by the Shipley-based Carers Resource. Called Home from Hospital (HfH), it helps vulnerable patients on their return from hospital,which in turn helps to reduce re-admissions. Covering Bradford, Airedale and Wharfedale, the service has helped more than 1,000 referrals in two years.

Manager Shelley Marshall said: “Nurses, therapists and social workers are key to identifying patients who may be at risk of readmission, or who may be anxious about returning home. Often they’re people who don’t qualify for social care but have additional needs which could affect their health, wellbeing or ability to remain independent.

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“Our team of staff and volunteers offers a variety of assistance including practical and emotional support, confidence building, setting up telephone shopping, help with accessing benefits and assisting with health appointments, as well as discussing longer-term needs such as befriending and getting out and about again.

“We also liaise with pharmacists about clients' medication and help people apply for a Blue Badge, a Safe and Sound pendant and the Access Bus.”

She added: “Going home after a stay in hospital can have a big affect on people’s wellbeing and confidence, and we find that our short-term support - even if it’s a visit to check how they’re doing or some encouragement to take up activities - can have a huge impact on helping people recover, stay well and stay out of hospital.

“Our support has been shown to reduce the number of unnecessary, distressing and costly admissions, as well as patients reporting that they feel less anxious and more able to cope.”

For HfH clients, the average readmissions rate within 30 days of discharge, per quarter from April 2014 to April 2015, was 3.5 per cent, compared to the national average of eight per cent, costing the NHS an estimated £2.2billion a year, according to the Nuffield Trust.

Anyone being discharged from hospital who may need additional support on returning home can qualify and must be referred in by a nurse, doctor, social worker, occupational therapist, or any health or social care professional.

The service includes an assessment of needs, a basic food hamper and regular visits or telephone calls for up to six weeks. Practical support includes providing information on other services, and help in applying for services.

Rose Harrison of Keighley was supported by the service after her husband Geoffrey’s stay in Airedale Hospital.

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Mr Harrison, 84, who has dementia, was in hospital for six days with an infection and Mrs Harrison said having extra help when he came home was reassuring for them both.

“The co-ordinator was easy to talk to and helped me with all sorts of things,” said Mrs Harrison, 83. “She put me in touch with organisations and places where we can go together, such as the My Memories and Me group and the Keighley Wellbeing Café where we have lunch and entertainment.

“Life isn’t easy as you get older, just having someone to talk to and to suggest new things we can do means such a lot."

For more about Home from Hospital call (01274) 531377.