Reablement is a short-term support service to help you do things for yourself and be more independent if you have: 

  • left hospital 
  • had an illness or fall 
  • had a change in social circumstances such as a bereavement 

We can help you with personal care, medication and meal preparation and support you regain your independence in these areas and learn or re-learn daily living skills which should increase your self-confidence. 

We can also help you remain involved in your local community network. For example, an occupational therapist could help you improve your mobility so you can get out and about. 

How it works 

The service is free and can last from one day, up to a maximum of six weeks, depending on your assessed needs. 

If you need the service following hospital discharge it will usually be organised before you go home by our hospital to home team.  

Support is provided by specially trained workers. 

When you receive the service, you will be regularly assessed and your time receiving it will vary depending on your: 

  • needs 
  • progression 
  • personal circumstances 

At the end of the reablement period, if you still need ongoing support, we will either:

  • refer you to long-term care, or
  • provide information to you or your family to make your own arrangements. 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for this service, you must: 

  • be a resident of the London Borough of Merton 
  • be aged 18 years or over 
  • be medically stable with all your acute health needs addressed 
  • meet the eligibility criteria for adult social care support
  • be able to benefit from reablement 
  • be willing and able to engage with a reablement programme 
  • be safe between care visits and overnight 
  • not have received reablement within the past 6 months unless it was for a different need 

Financial assessments 

We will carry out a financial assessment while you are receiving the reablement service. If you are assessed to need ongoing care, the financial assessment will work out if you could afford to pay towards the cost of ongoing care each week. 

Care Quality Commission rating 

The London Borough of Merton Reablement service was rated Good by the Care Quality Commission in 2018.

The service was reviewed in April 2023, and we are awaiting the report.

Contact us 

If you feel that you would benefit from the Reablement Service, please contact our First Response Team. 

Email: FirstResponseandInitialContact@Merton.gov.uk 
Telephone: 020 8545 4388