The IW Council’s ground-breaking free homecare for the over 80s scheme has been short listed for a top award.
The team responsible for implementing the scheme have been invited to an awards ceremony in Oxford on April 23 where they will find out whether they have won the award celebrating the transformation of a service by a local authority social care department.
The awards ceremony takes place at the Quadrangle Centre at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford as part of the South Central Regional Health and Social Care Awards.
The ceremony offers an important opportunity to celebrate the success of health and social care teams in the region and also allows social services teams the chance to share ideas with other professionals that will benefit patients, service users and staff.
All regional winners will then undergo a second judging process by a national panel of experts who will select three national finalists and a national winner for each of the award categories.
The Isle of Wight Council’s free home care for the over 80s scheme was launched in April 2007 as a One Island scheme with the aim of helping older residents to keep in their homes instead of needing to sell their homes and move into residential care. With more disposable income through not charging for their personal care, older people can spend money on improving their own quality of life.
Isle of Wight Council director of community services Sarah Mitchell said: “Since our scheme was launched in April last year nearly 1,000 older people on the Island have received our free personal care services that support people who may have needs for care services – absolutely free of charge.
“This nomination is excellent news and a testament to the hard work of all our staff – as well as the vision of our cabinet member whose idea made it possible.”
Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for health and well being Councillor Dawn Cousins added: “Older people have consistently told us that they wish to be cared for at home instead of having to sell their homes and pay for expensive nursing home care.
“Our free home care service for all residents on the Isle of Wight aged over 80, regardless of income or savings has been recognised by organisations such as Age Concern as giving older people real dignity and choice.
“My congratulations to all Isle of Wight Council officers whose hard work has made this nomination possible.”
Community services on the Island are continuing to be innovative in the care provisions they offer. This year £500,000 in grants will be made available to help people, especially the vulnerable, insulate their homes. The initiative is also under the One Island programme but also fits in with the Eco Island aims of promoting energy efficiency while also keeping people safe
