A new study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) has found that a support service designed for older individuals experiencing mild frailty could significantly reduce emergency hospital admissions and save money for the National Health Service (NHS). The clinical trial, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), involved 388 participants aged over 65 across three regions of the UK: London, Hertfordshire, and Yorkshire.
The study evaluated a service comprising six personalized home-based visits from support workers. These tailored interventions aimed to identify individual needs to maintain health and independence, covering areas such as home exercise programs, nutritional support for energy levels, mental wellbeing improvement, and fostering social connections among participants.
Of the 388 participants, 195 received the new service while 193 continued with their usual care. Follow-ups were conducted over one year. The results showed that those who participated in the personalized support service experienced a remarkable 35% reduction in unplanned hospital admissions, resulting in an average saving of £586 per person to the NHS during the study period.
Lead author Professor Kate Walters from UCL’s Epidemiology & Health Care department emphasized the importance of addressing mild frailty: “Frailty is a common condition among older people that leads to increased disability, hospitalizations, and care needs. Our service, developed with input from experts and stakeholders including older individuals themselves, aims to help those with mild frailty maintain their independence and stay healthy for longer.”
While the study demonstrated significant reductions in unplanned admissions and savings for the NHS, it also reported additional benefits such as minor improvements in wellbeing, psychological distress scores, and overall frailty levels. However, there were no substantial gains observed in self-care independence.
The findings of this research align with Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s pledge to alleviate pressure on hospitals by shifting focus towards community-based preventative care initiatives. According to Andrew Farmer from the NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, “The HomeHealth intervention shows great potential in helping older adults manage mild frailty, enhancing their quality of life and reducing healthcare costs associated with hospital admissions and support needs.”
The study was conducted in collaboration with Age UK, which played a crucial role in delivering the service during the trial. With adequate funding and support, the researchers aim to make this personalized home-based care available nationwide within two years.
