Home First Service

Home First is NHS Borders’ short-term reablement and rehabilitation service. It helps people:

• Return home safely after a hospital stay
• Remain at home where possible and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions

Our aim is to support recovery in your own environment with the right care, equipment, and therapy in place.

“Reablement is about doing things with you, not for you.”

You may benefit from Home First if you:

• Are at home or keen to return from hospital and remain at home where possible
• Are medically stable and do not need intensive nursing care
• Have potential to improve daily living skills
• Need short-term support, equipment, or therapy to regain independence

Being at home:

• Improves health and wellbeing
• Reduces risk of hospital-acquired infections
• Helps prevent confusion and loss of mobility
• Encourages independence and confidence
• Can help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions

We provide short-term, tailored support that may include:

• Visits from reablement support workers (frequency based on your needs)
• Assessment and support from Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Registered Nurses
• Equipment and adaptations to make your home safe
• Therapy programmes to help you regain independence

Active participation in daily tasks and therapy is encouraged to aid recovery.

Supporting Hospital Discharge:

• Planned Date of Discharge (PDD): You’ll be given a discharge date early in your stay to help plan your return home
• Discharge Planning Team: We work with you and your family to ensure your care needs are met
• Support at Home: We’ll arrange equipment, therapy, and care as needed

Preventing Hospital Admission:

• By providing short-term therapy, and equipment to keep you safe and independent. Home First can help you stay at home and avoid unnecessary hospital stays.

• Practice daily activities with support workers
• Engage in therapy programmes
• Work towards short-term goals to regain independence

Home First is a short-term service. If long-term care is needed:

• The team will assess your needs
• With your consent, they’ll refer you to Social Work

Contact us directly using the telephone numbers or email address at the top of the page. Alternatively, for more information you can speak with the following staff:

• Ward nurse
• Discharge coordinator
• General Practitioner (GP)
• District nurse
• Social worker