The new commissioning model for services for older people is already resulting in providers and statutory agencies working together to provide creative solutions and minimise gaps in service. This will be expanded to ensure more equitable service delivery across the city; strategic developments including volunteering, transport and web access are taken forward; issues such as lack of accessible activities in the evenings and weekends and needs of specific population groups such as BME and LGBT elders are addressed.
Independence is important to older people and older people’s home care services are increasing in line with a decrease in care home placements. New technology demonstrating positive outcomes will be rolled out. Alternative accommodation options, in particular extra care housing will be explored. New models will include ideas promoted by older people.
People who are ‘housebound’ have identified that there is a need to develop more volunteering activities e.g. befriending schemes to enable them to actively engage and connect with their communities, this will be taken forward through the new locality commissioning model.
Volunteers and informal carers are integral in supporting and delivering services. We will encourage the number of carers and volunteers to grow and ensure robust structures are in place to sustain them.
We will work with older people and partners in arts, culture and business to promote more positive images of age. Strategic mechanisms will be developed to enable older people to be visible in leading services and service development, including successful older leaders as role models.
Work on the Age Friendly City baseline assessment will continue, using the eight domains as specified by the WHO as well as identifying relevant additional domains. Issues raised will be fed back to relevant LSP partnership groups and action plans identified. Once the baseline assessment has been completed, the AFC steering group will lead on the development of a 3-year city-wide action plan.