Reablement: a cost-effective route to better outcomes

This is one in a series of research briefings about preventive care and support for adults. Prevention is broadly defined to include a wide range of services that: • promote independence; • prevent or delay the deterioration of wellbeing resulting from ageing, illness or disability; • delay the need for more costly and intensive services. Preventive services represent a continuum of support ranging from ‘primary prevention’ aimed at promoting wellbeing, through to ‘secondary’ or early intervention, and on to ‘tertiary services’ such as intermediate care provided by health and social care professionals. Tertiary services are aimed at minimising disability or deterioration from established health conditions or complex social care needs. The emphasis is on maximising people’s functioning and independence through approaches such as rehabilitation, intermediate care and reablement. This research briefing focuses on reablement.