Step down care is a move from hospital into a service without therapy - usually a care home - to free up a hospital bed. It is a temporary measure pending a choice of placement for the short term. It usually lasts up to 4 weeks, and occurs when someone is deemed medically fit for discharge (or no right to reside) but remains unsafe or unable to return home and has no identified reablement goals. The funding is usually provided via a pooled local authority/health budget such as the Better Care Fund. It is almost always funded by local authority commissioners rather than a hospital.

Care that may be provided if you are ready to leave hospital but not yet ready to return to your home. This type of care is offered by some care homes.