· Entertainment Recycled Teenagers
· Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Catherine McDonald in conjunction with the Head of Older People Services will highlight the work that is taking place in the borough in respect of older people.
· Presentation from Southwark Occupational Therapy about home improvement services for elderly and disabled people.
· Announcement on keep Warm and Well Campaign.
· Presentation on exercise opportunities for older people from various agencies finishing with chair based exercise session run by Southwark Pensioners’ Centre – just before the break.
Minutes:
The chair, Councillor Cleo Soanes provided a brief introduction to the theme on older people which came out of a previous meeting that set theme priorities for the year.
The chair introduced the next presenter Carl Campbell from the Recycled Teenagers. Carl spoke about health and wellbeing amongst older people particularly for those who had suffered from dementia. The group’s theme was about changing attitudes through dance as a way of dealing with dementia. He said it was important to look at it from a wider perspective because at some point there would be someone that you know that would experience some form of dementia.
At this juncture there was a music and dance interlude from the Recycled Teenagers.
For more information about Recycled Teenagers, sessions that highlight and raise awareness on Alzheimer’s and dementia are held every Tuesday at 1.00pm at Peckham Pulse.
Councillor Catherine McDonald explained her cabinet role in Southwark was for health and adult social care. Councillor McDonald gave an overview of the services the council provides for older people and was pleased that the community council had chosen services for older people as its theme.
During Councillor Mc Donald’s presentation the following was highlighted:
· Provide the type of services that older people would want to have and are able to have access to.
· To ensure they stay independent in their own homes for as long as possible
· To ensure older people are connected to their communities for as long as possible.
· Reablement – a service provided for people that might have a medical condition, an injury or an ailment who might struggle with every day tasks, the team would help them readjust to living with a slightly changed physical ability to enable them to live in their own homes.
· Help modify and adapt people’s homes if required – like the installation of a grab rail in a bathroom.
· Introduce and assist people with a personal budget from funding received from social services support which would include further support and range of quality services from voluntary sector organisations.
· The council propose to open an older people’s centre of excellence (scheduled to open next year) which would be a day centre to help people with dementia and those with any other complex needs – working in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s society.
· Meals on wheels – a service provided for those who are unable to cook for themselves in their own homes, the council have lowered the cost for meals on wheels this year and propose to lower it next year as well.
Councillor McDonald said information and services for older people are available in libraries, leisure centres and adult learning. She agreed to sign post people to other voluntary sector provision who work independently from the council.
Ray Boyce from head of older people services highlighted the following:
· Support older people in remaining as independent as possible in their own homes and communities.
· Reducing meals on wheels charge by 50%.
· Active participation.
· Improve the quality of residential/ nursing homes and homecare.
· Improving dementia services.
· Better support for carers.
· All residents will be offered a service – support or well being plan.
· Regalement – maintaining independence and better working with health.
· Partnership with health – Hospital care, community multi disciplinary teams etc.
· Night Owls, residential /nursing care initiatives including My Homelife.
Future plans:
· 3 new extra care units.
· Return of sheltered housing officers and wardens.
· Centre of excellence.
· London living wage (£2 per hour) and new partnership with providers – aim to attract good quality carers.
· Keeping people connected project – residential and nursing care.
Questions were raised on issues regarding:
Would council services that provide care for older people would be returning in house instead of external contractors who tend to employ mostly agency staff who at times do not always provide feedback to people they are caring for?
What are the council doing about families that live in the sheltered housing unit on the Cossall Estate because this has made it difficult for older people that live there?
Who would manage any of the new sheltered housing units because concern was raised about lunch provided for older people in these units – could these services be brought back in house because the council should be accountable for services provided?
London living wage – any service appointed under compulsory tendering generally always goes to whoever provides the services at the lowest cost which means the quality of service would not be of a good standard.
Carol Prudie, occupational therapy services manager explained what their role was in adult social care, occupational service and the services they provide.
· Role – to help maintain independence so daily living tasks are carried out safely e.g. feeding and bathing.
· To give advice and provide support to carers.
· Provide equipment which could be picked up from an accredited retailer.
· Carry out adaptations on people’s homes.
· Provide equipment on loan where the team would be responsible for its maintenance.
Anwara from Age UK spoke about the exercise classes that they run free of charge and work they do with local community groups, TRAs and other residents.
The chair thanked speakers for their presentations.