Who are we?

The Frailty Home Treatment service is part of the Community Frailty Team working for Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust. We are a team of consultant geriatricians, GPs and advance clinical practitioners.

What do we do?

Our goal is to help care for patients at home based on their wishes.

We aim to avoid unnecessary hospital admission, enabling frail elderly people to remain at home for their treatment and care. Research has shown that elderly frail people prefer care in a familiar home environment supported by their family and friends.

How do we work?

Your GP, or other health care professionals such as ambulance teams and community teams has referred you to us, because they feel you can be supported by our service at home instead of going into hospital. When we get your referral, we initially have a telephone conversation with the referrer. Based on your wishes and the information that is given to us, we suggest a home treatment plan. The home treatment plan can involve a home visit from a member of our team or advice to the referrer about what to do next.

If the Frailty Home Treatment Service visit you at home, they will assess you and discuss a plan with you, which may involve medical treatment, rehabilitation and social care. The medical treatment can often be started by us. We may arrange a follow up visit or a follow up phone call with you or your family.

We work very closely with the local frailty community hubs, GPs and other community services. We often discuss your situation with our healthcare colleagues to get the best care for you.

You may then be “closed” to our service and could be handed over to another healthcare colleague. If the Frailty Home Treatment Service has closed your case, you will be informed and you are advised to contact your surgery or 111 for any further issues.