Elderly people consulted on the future of social care (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Elderly people consulted on the future of social care

May 23, 2008 5:01 PM

Elderly people around York have given their views on the future of social care, saying the private sector should be used more to provide services, and additional services should be provided to help people live more independently for longer.

Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, Cllr Sue Galloway, recommended the consultation last October, and it was carried out over a 4-week period in March and April. The consultation involved an 'Ask the Audience' exercise for initial reactions, and a survey posted to around 3, 000 people over the age of 50, and available online. Staff and carers were also consulted.

Elderly people were asked to give their views on increasing spending on social care, reducing the need for formal services through preventative and additional services, and the council's role as the direct provider of services.

Respondents thought that the independent sector should be used to jointly provide services with the council, as it can provide greater resources for less. There was also interest in 'additional' services, on top of formal care services, such as handypersons, information and advice, footcare services, gardening and shopping as well as Telecare (sensory equipment linked to alarm systems).

There was strong support fro the council to work with Housing Associations and other housing providers to enable people to stay in their own homes as their care needs increase.

The consultation also found that three fifths of respondents would consider moving into housing with care, such as an elderly person's home, or warden supported accommodation. Four fifths felt that residential care should focus on providing specialist care for people with high dependency or dementia.

Councillors will review the results of the consultation at the Housing and Adult Social Services Advisory Panel on 2nd June.

Cllr Sue Galloway, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, said:

"We know that both here in York and across the country the proportion of the population aged over 65 will increase dramatically over the next 15 years. People now want more flexible and responsive social care to fit their individual needs, and so they can live more independently for longer. We therefore need to respond to these social changes through different approaches to providing social care, particularly as, if we continue using the same approach to providing social care for elderly people, we could be spending an extra £10m per year by 2020."

"The Liberal Democrat Executive has decided to provide services to people with needs classed as 'moderate' or above, but more than 70% of councils around the country only provide services to people whose needs are classed as 'substantial'. We believe it is very important to help as many people as possible, but this does put pressure on our resources here in York. "

"I would like to thank everybody who took the time to give the council their views on this, as it is very important that we provide services in the future that respond to the needs of local people."

725 people responded to the consultation - a positive response rate of 24%. The majority of respondents were aged over 70, and half the respondents have a disability.