What Is Complex Care?

Complex care refers to the kind of care that requires person-centered specialist support for individuals with chronic or long-term health conditions, that requires extra assistance to manage their symptoms and daily activities to enable a high quality of life.

This type of care differs from general Domiciliary care because it usually involves medical intervention of some sort and involvement with doctors and nurses that specialise in particular health conditions. Complex care can include any condition that requires clinical support, such as Parkinson’s, acquired brain injuries or a neurological condition. It can also be provided if someone requires nursing care as a result of their primary condition, for example, a PEG feeding tube after someone has had a stroke.

The aim of complex care at home is to provide support around an individual’s needs and enable them to retain their independence as much as possible.

Who are adults with complex needs?

Adults with complex needs are a subset of the UK population with a substantial mix of physical, behavioral health, and social needs. This diverse population often has higher rates of hospitalization and emergency department use compared with the broader population. Yet, despite high service use, people with complex needs often experience worsening outcomes. While these distinctions can be helpful, the care needs within each of these subpopulations vary considerably, and many people fall under more than one of these categories. In addition, unmet social needs are common among individuals in all five of these groups.