Minimising hospital admissions from care homes is more critical than ever. Rising flu cases and seasonal illnesses are placing great pressure on an already stretched healthcare system. Care providers face the challenge of preventing avoidable hospital visits whilst maintaining the highest possible standards of resident wellbeing.
Prevention is key to tackling this. Proactively preventing incidents can feel unrealistic, especially given the challenges social care faces. However, with the right tools and strategies, significant improvements are possible.
Why pain matters
Pain is a silent epidemic in care homes. When not identified promptly, it can go untreated or is managed inappropriately, leading to avoidable hospital admissions caused by:
- Increased risk of complications such as infections and falls
- Reducing malnutrition & unnecessary prescribing
- Avoidable ambulance callouts
When pain is identified early and managed effectively, these contributors are cut significantly.
The risk of falls
Falls contribute significantly to the number of hospital admissions from care homes. In recent years, emphasis has been applied to detecting falls more effectively. Sensors and other discreet technology have been well adopted across care, and whilst these do support better responses to falls, it doesn’t support decreasing the frequency of these incidents.
It is important to look at why these falls are occurring. Through working closely with our clients, PainChek® has seen firsthand how pain and existing painful conditions a significant driver to these falls and therefore create a heightened risk of fractures and other injuries that require hospitalisation.
Here are some examples demonstrating a strong link between pain and falls:
Dovehaven Care Homes carried out a trial where residents who experienced frequent falls had their pain levels assessed four times a day using PainChek®. This included residents with leg, knee and ankle pain, as well as those without painful lower body conditions. Within a six-month period, the group saw a 45% reduction in falls, demonstrating the positive impact of effective pain assessment and management.
The Scottish Care Inspectorate piloted PainChek® between July 2024 and April 2025 to enhance dementia care and assess carers’ views on its value. An independent study conducted by Edinburgh Napier University and the Scottish Care Inspectorate found that four services that completed the pilot saw a 42% reduction in falls, contributing to hospital avoidance.
The London Borough of Enfield has also seen positive clinical outcomes in relation to daily use of PainChek® and falls. Over a 12-month period, Elsyng House Care Home achieved a 54% reduction in falls, and a 72% reduction in hospital admissions. Another home, Elizabeth Lodge saw a 35% reduction in falls and a 50% reduction in hospital admissions over the same period.
Malnutrition: a hidden driver of hospital admissions
Malnutrition leads to hospital admissions by severely weakening the body, increasing vulnerability to:
- Severe infections
- Impaired healing and muscle loss (increasing fall risk)
- Organ dysfunction
These factors can worsen existing conditions or create new problems that require urgent medical intervention, such as severe dehydration, pneumonia from weak chest muscles, or complications from poor wound healing.
Beyond the immediate health risks, malnutrition drives longer hospital stays, repeated admissions, and soaring care costs. This places a significant burden on both care recipients and the healthcare system.
Early screening and nutritional support are crucial for prevention. This screening must include pain assessment. There are many reasons why pain impacts and contributes to malnutrition. This can include associated appetite loss and depression, as well as physical limitations such as loose teeth and poorly fitting dentures which can lead to a reduction in the variety of foods a person can eat and impact their nutritional health.
By addressing pain as a hidden driver of malnutrition, care providers can improve nutritional health and enhance overall wellbeing, making pain assessment a cornerstone of preventative care.
The Scottish Care Inspectorate’s independent evaluation of PainChek® consistently showed a 47% increase in resident BMI and subsequent reductions in MUST (Malnutrition Scores) following use of the tool to identify pain at a much earlier stage.
Over a six-month period, 81% of residents at Kirk Lane Nursing Home, part of Randolph Hill group, reduced or maintained their MUST scores and 43% achieved an increase in BMI.
Infections: earlier treatment within the community
Infections such as UTIs are common in older people and can be very painful. If it can be identified that an individual is starting to become uncomfortable – through their behaviours and pain levels – that evidence can be provided to the GP, and investigations can be carried out earlier. This means that the infection can be treated within the community, rather than it escalating and necessitating a hospital admission.
Other factors driving down hospital admissions
When pain is accurately assessed and effectively treated:
- Improved mood and wellbeing – people engage more in social and physical activity
- Better management post-falls – less risk of further incidents
- Reduced dependency – fewer transfers into secure mental health hospital units
- Reduced medication – fewer residents taking multiple drugs (polypharmacy)
Case study: South West London ICB
PainChek® is improving pain management in 21 care homes in Southwest London, especially for residents living with dementia. Poorly managed pain in people with dementia and in hospital is linked to increased risk of delirium and high antipsychotic use. Moreover, hospitals can be distressing for those living with dementia, who tend to have longer hospital stays, averaging 31 days compared to 14 days for those without dementia. Through use of PainChek®:
- Belmont Care Home in Southwest London achieved a 36% reduction in incidents necessitating ambulance callouts
- Three of the Board’s care homes have seen the rate of conveyance from the home to hospital increase from 74% to 82% with PainChek®, due to the fact residents’ pain levels are being accurately measured
- Devonshire Dementia Care Home in Surrey has seen a 33% reduction in falls, a 50% reduction in incidents and accidents reported, and a 66% reduction in hospital admissions (October to December 2024)
Take action today – get in touch
Want to learn more? Discover more examples of how care providers in the UK have used PainChek® to reduce resident hospital admissions: download our free guide:
Interested to learn more about how PainChek® can improve pain management and compliance in your facility? Contact our team today.
