REPORT OF THE

Cabinet / Leader

PART II

OLDER PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING STRATEGY FOR HAMPSHIRE: APRIL 2008 - MARCH 2011

1. On 31 March 2008 the Cabinet approved the Older People's Well-Being Strategy, the aim of which is to improve and enhance the well-being of older people across the county. Key to achieving this is to develop services and support that will allow them to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, while maintaining a positive quality of life.

2. The Strategy has been developed by the joint Older People's Well-Being Steering Group comprising representatives from County Council departments as well as a range of voluntary organisations including Age Concern Hampshire, Carers Together, British Red Cross, WRVS, Brendoncare Club Hampshire and Hampshire Voluntary Groups Advisory Service. Agencies such as the Pension Service have also been involved along with input from district councils. The Strategy focuses on the 84% of older people over the age of 65 who at any given time are not intensively using National Health Service and social care services.

3. A consultation exercise was undertaken between December 2007 and March 2008, which requested feedback on 21 county-wide priorities. The priorities which received the greatest number of responses in order of importance are:

a. Work with transport agencies to improve access and services

b. Promote information about existing gardening services; support the
development of low maintenance gardening initiatives and gardening schemes where required


c. Consider a variety of ways to access existing handy person and home improvement activities, including energy savings and insulation


d. Develop further ways to promote personal safety


e. Co-ordinate an on-going benefits campaign across the county with the Pension Services and other agencies


f. Encourage activities between the young and the old


g. Promote simple and regular physical activities in a variety of settings


h. Increase the opportunity to access a variety of social activities and the co-ordination between existing resources

4. The priorities above will build on initiatives that have already been put in place by the Older People's Well-Being team and its partners, and includes:

· The `slipper swap 2007' - enabled older people to swap old and dangerous slippers for new slip resistant ones

· `chat to a friend' - helpline for older people

· OPAL project - aims to use trained volunteers to support isolated older people to link back into local services and activities

5. In approving the Strategy, the Cabinet welcomed the provision of a framework that will enable the development of services and activities to maximise the well-being and quality of life for older people.