A NEW team to support older people to live independently at home started work in Hampshire this week, providing short-term care to help people regain confidence and learn ways to make their daily life tasks easier.

Hampshire County Council’s Reablement and Assessment of Care Team (REACT) service is being delivered across the county by its community response team and six private providers.

The team steps in when people are referred to social services because they need support to return home after a spell in hospital or are experiencing a change to their circumstances or care needs and require help to remain independent.

A pilot of the service saw more than 50 per cent of people receiving support needing no longer-term care.