Gordon Lishman Director-General Age Concern England said:

"This report clearly shows that older people are being placed in care homes straight from hospital without the opportunity to see if they could return home or benefit from rehabilitation. Local authorities need to provide home assistance and simple home improvements such as grab rails or bath rails to help prevent older people from being forced out of their homes prematurely.

“Added to this problem insufficient focus is being put on preventing older people from going into hospital in the first place. It means that local authorities are footing unnecessary bills and more older people are having to endure hospital stays.

"Every older person should have‚ as recommended by the Government's hospital discharge guidance‚ a named individual to help them through the process of discharge. However‚ in some cases this is not happening resulting in older people experiencing more distress and confusion at an already difficult time." 

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