Developing an intermediate care unit for older people with mental and physical illnesses.

Intermediate care is an integral part of healthcare for older people with physical illness. It can provide rehabilitation and enable early hospital discharge, but people with both mental and physical illnesses have frequently been excluded from intermediate care services. This article describes a 12 bed, nurse led rehabilitation unit for older people with mental and physical health needs. The ethos is to promote independence and allow patients to achieve their objectives no matter what their age and ongoing limitations.