What is reablement?

Councils illegally charging service users for reablement

What is reablement?

Reablement is one of councils’ main tools in managing the costs of an ageing population and will be important as authorities face cuts in government funding of 25% or more from 2011-15.

Providing personal care, help with daily living activities and other practical tasks, usually for up to six weeks, reablement encourages service users to develop the confidence and skills to carry out these activities themselves and continue to live at home.

It tends to be provided to people who have just been discharged from hospital or are otherwise entering the care system following a crisis.

A 2007 study for the Department of Health’s care services efficiency delivery network found that up to 68% of people no longer needed a home care package after a period of reablement, and up to 48% continued not to need home care two years later.

Services are often delivered by in-house council care teams, rather than the independent sector, and involve home care staff working in tandem with physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other health professionals.

Almost all of England’s councils are planning, implementing or running a reablement service.

 Why reablement is so popular with councils 

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