From hospital to home: How Age UK Isle of Wight is helping tackle a national challenge

A new report from Age UK has highlighted the growing challenge of older people remaining in hospital despite being medically well enough to leave – and the important role community organisations can play in helping people return home safely.

The Longest Wait to Leave, a report published by Age UK in July 2026, examines how delayed hospital discharges are contributing to pressure throughout the NHS, including overcrowded hospitals and corridor care.

Nationally, around 13,000 people on a typical day are medically fit to leave hospital but remain there, with older people overwhelmingly affected. The number has increased by almost 70% since 2021, while 6.75 million bed days were lost to discharge delays of seven days or more during 2025/26. Age UK estimates these delays cost the NHS £2.66 billion over the year.

Behind those figures are thousands of people who may be ready to leave a hospital bed but need the right support around them to make returning home safe and sustainable.

The difference practical support can make

Leaving hospital can be a vulnerable time, particularly for someone living alone or without family or friends nearby.

Age UK's report highlights the importance of practical support after discharge. Something as simple as making sure there is food in the house, that the home is warm, or that somebody checks in can help an older person regain their confidence and independence. The report describes these as areas where voluntary and community organisations can make an important contribution, helping to make a discharge successful and reducing the risk of someone quickly returning to hospital.

Here on the Island, Age UK Isle of Wight's Home First team is already providing this kind of support.

Working in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, our Home First Coordinators provide free, short-term practical support for people aged over 50 following a hospital stay, as well as support in the community that can help prevent an unnecessary hospital admission.

Support can include collecting prescriptions, essential shopping, welfare visits and phone calls, checking that heating is working and that the home is safe, as well as helping with practical arrangements following a hospital stay. The service can be particularly important for people who do not have a strong support network around them, or older couples who may already be supporting one another.

During 2025/26, our Home First team supported more than 1,700 people across the Isle of Wight, helping Islanders return home, regain confidence and remain independent.

Supporting people beyond the hospital door

Getting somebody medically well enough to leave hospital is only one part of the journey.

Returning home after illness or a hospital stay can mean adjusting to reduced mobility, rebuilding routines or simply getting through the first few days when everyday tasks suddenly feel more difficult.

Age UK's national report calls for stronger community capacity to help older people "get home, recover and stay well", including greater use of voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations to help people settle back into their homes.

It is an approach that reflects the work being delivered every day through Home First on the Isle of Wight.

By working alongside NHS services and responding to the practical issues that can make returning home difficult, our team provides an important safety net at a point when people may need it most.

While delayed discharge is a complex national problem that cannot be solved by any one service, community-based support has an important role to play. Helping someone get home safely, making sure essential things are in place and giving them confidence as they recover can make a real difference – both to the individual and to the wider health and care system.

Find out more about Home First

Our Home First service provides free, short-term support for people aged over 50 following hospital discharge and can also support people in the community to help avoid unnecessary hospital admission.

For more information, call 01983 822099, email ageukhospital@ageukiw.org.uk, or visit our Home First page