A British scheme for older people could halve the number of overnight hospital stays and reduce emergency admissions by nearly a third, according to a study from the University of Kent.
The Partnership for Older People Projects (POPP) program has seen the creation of 29 local projects to assist older people throughout England since 2005.
The local government-led projects are designed to promote innovative approaches to keeping older people healthy, well and independent.
Project activities ranged from lunch clubs to formal preventive initiatives, such as hospital discharge and rapid response services.
The report’s author, Dr Karen Windle from the University of Kent’s Personal Social Services Research Unit, said the scheme had delivered encouraging results.
“It is possible that even greater value could be secured over the longer term, as new projects learn from their experience, and general expertise and confidence grow,” she said.
Originally set up as a pilot, the POPP program was launched nationally by the British Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham earlier this week.
With older people in the UK now outnumbering people under 18, Mr Burnham said a new approach to healthcare was needed.
“We are radically overhauling the care and support system,” he said. “Prevention, early intervention and integration of services are all fundamental principles to that reform and our vision to create a National Care Service.”
