Agenda item

This paper seeks the Group’s input into the Council’s review on how to meet the needs and aspirations of people over 50 in York.

The group received a report that summarised how the council was meeting the needs and aspirations of older people living in the city and its proposals as to what needed to be done in the future.

A video was shown that highlighted issues in respect of dignity for older people.

Officers gave details of how the council was looking to develop its customer insight and to improve co-ordination within the council.  It was also keen to promote positive messages and images about age. 

The group was informed of changes to the way in which the sharing of resources would become more important in the future and of the way in which services were commissioned.

The group’s views were sought on the following issues:

• Is what the council does now enough?
• Is what the council plans to do in the future enough?
• What else should the council be doing?

The following issues were discussed:

• Putting out refuse can be very difficult for some elderly people.  Although the council has good assisted collection arrangements in place, more should be done to make people aware of this, including ensuring that front line staff were aware of the services available.
• Most elderly people are proud and may be reluctant to seek help.  They like to be independent.  This has to be taken into account when services are offered.
• People who have hearing difficulties or memory problems would prefer to speak to a person rather than an automated telephone system.
• Some elderly people fear that if they complain about a service it will make things even worse.

• Improvements could be made in the communication between council departments.  Officers should be able to direct customers to the person who can best deal with their problems.  An example of poor practice had occurred when a member of the group had to report a problem with rats and was passed to several different offices.
• There should be more staff training on meeting the needs of the ageing population.
• There should be improvements made to the way in which the council works with tenants when housing improvements are required.  These can be summarised as follows:

-           Forward planning could be improved so that work is carried out in stages rather than tenants having a prolonged period of disruption.  It is also important that officers make tenants aware of what the work will entail and of any preparations they need to make.

-           The present level of compensation is not sufficient to cover the costs involved in using professional decorators to carry out work.  Many elderly or disabled people may not be able to carry out the work themselves.  The council should also consider issuing an approved list of contractors who could be used.

-           The council should be better aware of the impact that work of this nature can have on tenants, particularly those who are elderly or vulnerableand for whom living in a house whilst the work is ongoing can be very difficult.  Alternative arrangements should be offered if required.

·        Older people who live on their own may suffer from isolation or depression – this should be taken into account.  More needs to be done to break down social isolation.  Initiatives such as “Adopt a Granny” and “Do you know your neighbours?” had taken place in the past and had proved to be a useful way of engaging with older people.  Consideration should be given to arranging similar campaigns.

·        Clarification was sought as to whether the council had a database in place that identified elderly people to ensure that help and support could be better targeted.  Officers explained that a record was kept of vulnerable people in the city in order that they could be easily contacted in the event of an emergency such as flooding.  The list was predominantly comprised of people known through social care.

·        There is a need to raise awareness of the services and support that can be offered by the council and voluntary groups.  It was also important that the services are targeted appropriately. It was noted that an Information Fair was due to be held at the Guildhall on 14 September 2010, at which officers would promote the services that were available. The group also suggested that, if written information was to be used to notify people of services available, the ward newsletters were more widely read that the council wide publication.  Details were given of a project that the CVS was carrying out to identify voluntary and community groups in the city.  This would enable people to be directed to a group that could best meet their needs.

Officers stated that they would welcome any further comments via email to:

chris.weeks@york.gov.uk

RESOLVED:            (i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)That the group’s comments regarding ways in which the council could improve its provision for older people be taking into account when services are developed¹.

REASON:            To ensure that the group has input in this area.