As previously highlighted back in April, a consultation on the provision of care for older people is due to launch today. This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Residents are invited to help shape the future provision of care for older people on the Island in a six-week consultation being launched today (Monday 18 July 2011).
The council is undertaking a detailed review of the current services for older people including the roles of The Adelaide and The Gouldings, as well as the future needs of the Island’s older population. The council is seeking residents’ views on the type of support they would like to see on the Island in the future and how it is delivered.
Keen to hear from potential future users
As well as people who currently use services for older people on the Island and their families and carers, the council wants to involve younger people who may need to use care services in the future.
The number of older people on the Island is increasing and in order to meet the future demand for care the council is looking at different ways people can be supported so that the right services are provided to the right people at the right time.
Market report sets our postition
A market report has been produced to show people how care for older people is changing locally and nationally, what we know about the number of people who might need care in the future and what is currently available on the Island. Included within that are the day and residential respite care and reablement services provided at The Gouldings and The Adelaide, specialist dementia care and private and voluntary sector long-stay residential homes.
The report also includes detailed information about the services currently available at The Gouldings and The Adelaide so people have a full understanding of the services provided in the wider context of care provision on the Island.
Commitment to support most vulnerable residents
The council is committed to supporting the Island’s most vulnerable residents and has identified a number of different approaches to care – which are used elsewhere in the UK and abroad – that could provide an alternative means of support for older people.
These different approaches to care include the following models of support: extra care housing, homeshare, assistive technology/telemedicine and the shared lives schemes, all of which are detailed in the market report. These approaches are not intended to replace how we support people currently but could offer greater choice and the possibility of better value for money both for the council and individuals who are funding their support from their resources.
Share your views on alternative approaches
Cllr Roger Mazillius, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Housing and Community Safety, said: “At May’s cabinet meeting we made a commitment to undertake a detailed review of the current and future care needs of the Island’s older people so that we can make informed decisions about the future of care for older people on the Island.
“We would like to hear what people think about the alternative approaches to care for older people identified in the report and what aspects they agree with as well as any areas of concern. Where people do have concerns the council would like to hear people’s ideas about how these could be addressed.
“With the older population increasing rapidly and funding tighter than ever, it is important that we undertake this detailed review of our current services and consider what support could be delivered or commissioned in the future to meet the growing demand.”
Six week consultation
The consultation runs from Monday 18 July to Friday 26 August 2011. People can complete an online survey at www.iwight.com, paper copies of the survey are also available from help centre, libraries, County Hall, The Adelaide and The Gouldings.
Alternatively people can write to the council with their comments to: Social Care Consultation, Adult Services HQ, 17 Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2EA or email [email protected].
A number of events and meetings are being planned throughout the consultation period which will provide people with a chance to share their views face to face. Dates will be announced in due course.
The findings of the consultation will be presented to the council’s cabinet on 4 October 2011. Cabinet members will then decide which ideas to take forward and more detailed proposals will be put out for formal consultation with recommendations for final actions to be considered by cabinet on 14 February 2012.
Image: Sunshine City under CC BY 2.0
