A SCHEME that allows elderly people to have greater control over the care services they receive has been launched this week.
Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for health and well being Councillor Dawn Cousins attended the London launch of the “Putting People First” initiative – a national agreement between central and local government to reform social care and support independent living for older people.
An extra £520m will be allocated to local councils nationwide as a social care reform grant over the next three years.
The grant includes some NHS resources in recognition of the impact good quality social care can have on improving people’s health and well-being.
Local authorities will also agree to work with voluntary sector partners, users and carers as well as the wider local community to create a new high quality care system which is both fair and accessible and responsive to the needs of those who use services and their carers.
Key elements of the transformation that will take place in every community including the Isle of Wight include:
Giving the vast majority of people who receive funded care their own personal budgets so they can choose the support services they want for themselves or a family member
Initiatives such as “first stop shops” becoming common place so that everyone, including people who don’t have support from social services will have access to advice and advocacy about community services, such as local community equipment providers, fall services or domiciliary support and transport links.
Investing in support that keeps older people healthy and tackles loneliness and isolation
Closer collaboration between the NHS and local government so that people receive more co-ordinated and efficient support in the community.
Councillor Cousins said: “The Isle of Wight Council is already leading the way on schemes that will transform the lives of the Island’s most vulnerable residents.
“We have signed the memorandum of understanding with our partners at the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust which has led to greater co-operation and joined up working between the two organisations on the Island to deliver care packages.
“And of course, our radical free home care scheme for the over 80s on the Isle of Wight means that elderly people on the Island receive top quality care in their own homes – absolutely free of charge.
“This means we can deliver top quality care to older people while they remain at home – something that older people have consistently told us they want to be able to do.”
