Description
A healthy body needs many inter-related working parts, as do hospital and community health care services. Though the eye does not speak and the foot does not write, a healthy body needs both. Similarly, hospital and community services have complementary components of health and social care. The main framework of care for older people is well laid out in the Continuing Care Guidelines HSG(95)8. These acknowledge the need for recovery and rehabilitation environments for the acutely ill, and personalised single room accommodation for the chronic sick. Respite care, day hospitals and palliative care are also needed to support the disabled and dying in the community.
