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5. Recommendations to address the needs of older people
- The increasing number of older people, now and in the future, are a challenge to services. We recommend focusing more on improving health and quality of life, together with more effective ways of working. The Council already has an Older People's Strategy. We propose the development of a joint strategy with partner agencies and with older people themselves that reflects the findings of this needs assessment and will be reported to the North Somerset Partnership
- We also recommend the development of a joint commissioning strategy for health and social care that promotes independence and rehabilitation
- As soon as an enchanced information for community health service activity is implemented, data should be analysed to further update the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
- We urge the improvement of the support for mobility, vision and continence to allow more older people to continue a fulfilling independent life
- We suggest the target groups of health promoting initiatives (such as stop smoking, reducing alcohol intake and improving diet and exercise) include older people
- Although North Somerset has a high number of care homes overall, the number of places for people with dementia is relatively low, and places are concentrated in Weston. We need to improve equality of access across the area, and increase the care available for people with dementia
- A wider range of supported accommodation options should be made available to take into account the aspirations of the high proportion of older people who are owner occupiers
- We need to improve the range of services, information and support available to the significant numbers of people who finance their own care
- We recommend the development of a joint strategy for older people with mental health problems that encompasses the needs of carers and the National Dementia Strategy
- Primary Care and Social Services should be integrated to ensure a consistent approach to promoting choice and independence for older people