Age UK works with NHS and local authority partners to deliver community-based health and care solutions.
Our work aligns to key system priorities including discharge and flow, neighbourhood health, frailty, prevention and demand reduction.
Older people are the most intensive users of health and care services – and the most affected when those services don’t join up or struggle to meet their complex needs. The Age UK Network acts as a trusted, embedded partner delivering integrated, person-centred support that improves outcomes and reduces pressure on acute services.
Everyone deserves to start their recovery with confidence, dignity and someone by their side.
In this video, the team at Age UK Bolton explain how they support older people in their local community in coming home from hospital.
We bring specialist understanding of the non‑clinical factors that often drive deterioration for older people living with frailty, multiple conditions or reduced resilience. By supporting people earlier, through key transitions such as leaving hospital, and into recovery at home - linking into wider community support as needs change - we help reduce avoidable admissions, readmissions and decline linked to isolation, deconditioning and loss of confidence following illness or hospitalisation.
Outcomes depend not only on the care provided, but on whether older people access, attend and follow through with that care. The Age UK Network provides a delivery partner embedded within local neighbourhoods working to support early engagement, access, coordination and follow-up. Our distinctive value lies in a person‑centred, wraparound approach, ensuring people are connected into wider support that sustains independence and prevents avoidable deterioration.
Delivered through independent local Age UKs working alongside NHS, local authorities and VCSE partners, our model combines national standards, governance and reporting with flexibility to local pathways. We provide commissioners with scalable, community-based solutions that will help meet national goals to keep older people healthier at home, reduce acute demand, increase patient satisfaction and reach underserved populations.
From staying well and preventing decline to enabling safe discharge and recovery, Age UK provides community-based support that improves outcomes, reduces demand and addresses health inequalities.
Early intervention is key to preventing avoidable admissions and reducing pressure across urgent care. In partnership with local services, Age UK identifies people at rising risk and provides targeted support such as falls prevention, home safety and practical help to stabilise situations. By acting before needs escalate, this reduces crisis presentations and hospital use, offering a flexible, proven way to strengthen admission avoidance.
Managing demand linked to ageing populations requires earlier, sustained support. Age UK works within communities to identify and engage older people before needs escalate, providing practical support such as advice, social connection and help accessing local services. This maintains independence and reduces future demand. A scalable, neighbourhood-aligned approach complements clinical services and strengthens population health outcomes over time.
Reaching underserved populations requires trusted, local engagement beyond traditional services. Age UK's community presence enables proactive identification and support for older people facing barriers like isolation, low income or digital exclusion, helping them connect with appropriate care and support. This improves access and outcomes while supporting delivery of equity priorities, providing a practical, community-based route to reduce inequalities.
Age UK Lancashire delivers coordinated, community-based support across the pathway, from preventing hospital admission to supporting recovery at home following discharge. Through locally embedded teams working with NHS and system partners, services identify people at risk early, provide targeted support to prevent escalation, and ensure safe, supported transitions home.
Living Well Support Service (12 months) delivered:
Across both models, support focused on practical, non-clinical interventions such as welfare checks, home safety, emotional support, and connection into wider services. This demonstrates how integrated, community-based provision can reduce demand, improve flow and support better outcomes for older people across the full pathway.
For commissioners, the Age UK Network delivers measurable impact – helping older people stay well at home while easing system demand. We'd love to discuss how we can work together.
Email us today at partnership@ageuk.org.uk
