WRVS, the UK’s largest charity delivering preventative care for older people, has released a new report by two senior GPs specialising in the care of older people, showing that the majority of PCTs in England are being slow to address the Government’s priority to support older people to live independently at home.
Most are doing little to invest in services which tackle extreme loneliness and potentially save the NHS up to £2 billion a year in hospital admissions and delayed discharges from hospital.
The main findings in the report show that:
50% of PCTs are intending to invest in telecare or telemedicine services
The minority are investing in services such as social clubs or community transport which tackle extreme loneliness by encouraging older people to stay involved with neighbours, family and the local community
A minority are investing in services to tackle the issues affecting some older people such as dementia awareness training or falls prevention awareness
A third have made no progress towards joint commissioning with local authorities or could show no evidence of involving the voluntary sector in the provision of preventative support services for older people
David McCullough, Chief Executive of WRVS said:
“As an organisation working with thousands of older people every day at home, in hospital and in the community, WRVS know how vital and effective support services are, which keep older people involved with friends, neighbours and their local community. Services like befriending, community transport, and meals on wheels prevent extreme loneliness which in turn means fewer older people end up in hospital or care homes.
“It makes sound financial sense. If PCTs and local authorities invest in preventing older people from being isolated they can reap the rewards in terms of savings in hospital admissions and reductions in the numbers of older people “blocking-beds” because they lack the support they need to get back on their feet at home.
“This has the potential to save the taxpayer millions, possibly even billions.”
The WRVS report was compiled using data received from Freedom of Information requests to PCTs in England. WRVS wanted to find out how the government’s £150 million funding for re-enablement was being used. The request asked:
How does your PCT intend to spend the money allocated for re-enablement?
What progress has been made towards joint working with local authorities?
How are voluntary services being included in commissioning services?
Campaigns & Issues
Lobby for libraries
The NPC officers have given their backing to a lobby being organised by UNISON, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), Voices for the Library, The Library Campaign, Campaign for the Book and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) which will call on politicians to protect vital library services.
News
WRVS response to Health Committee report on social care
WRVS calls for a decisive leap towards joining up health and social care responding to the Health Select Committee inquiry report.
David McCullough, Chief Executive of WRVS said: “Delivering 21st-century health services will hinge on us switching considerable resources into keeping older people in their own homes and breaking the cycle of isolation that faces many people from their seventies onwards.
Competitions & Fun
Win a signed copy of Citizen James on DVD
CARRY ON’S inimitable Sid James is Citizen James in the hilarious 1960s BBC comedy, which finally comes to DVD for the first time. This long-lost classic comedy series makes its DVD debut, featuring the only known surviving episodes, the complete series one, and two episodes each from series two and three. They will be released as a two-disc set on 6 February 2012 courtesy of Acorn Media.
In series one written by Alan Simpson and Ray Galton (Hancock, Steptoe & Son), Sid (Sid James) is a hard-working layabout, gambler and con-artist, hanging out on the streets of Soho with his sidekick Bill (Bill Kerr), in Charlie’s Nosh Bar and occasionally paying a visit to his long-suffering fiancée Liz (Liz Fraser), to borrow money to pay off his gambling debts and cons gone wrong.
Advertorial
February is travel love month with Silver Travel Advisor
WIN £1,000 CRUISE VOUCHERS WITH VIKING RIVER CRUISES AND MANY OTHER PRIZES
Silver Travel Advisor is a friendly website packed with advice, tips, information and honest reviews written by and for silver travellers (aged over 50). A team of advisors are on hand to answer queries (for free), and you can share your own experiences too.
February is Travel Love month at Silver Travel Advisor, and there is a whole range of prizes to be found including the star prize:
Viking River Cruises – win £1,000 cruise vouchers
Health & Wellbeing
Scrap the government's health bill, say BMJ readers
More than 90% of British Medical Journal readers responding to a poll published today think the government's health reforms should be scrapped.
The poll asked: "Should the Health and Social Care Bill for England now be withdrawn?"
Property & Finance
Did you miss the Self Assessment deadline?
If you have missed the deadline for submitting a Self Assessment (SA) tax return and you can show that you should not have been in the SA regime in the first place, then you may be able to avoid any penalties.
Lifestyle
Paula's Wines of the Week starting 6 February 2012
If you really like a certain wine, rather than buying it in single cork-stoppered bottles why not get larger four bottle-sized amounts available in boxes? But if stepping along to the supermarket seems like too much of a chilly effort then try the online winebox retailer InspiredWine.co.uk because they’re offering free delivery during February.
There are advantages to buying wine in a winebox. As the wine is dispensed through a plastic tap all the annoyance of the cork is removed: no more tainted 'corked' wine (this spoils at least one in ten traditionally bottled wines due to improperly sterilised corks) and no more chasing around bits of broken cork that always sink when the index finger sent in to oik them out gets anywhere near them.
Travel & Leisure
£15m boost for sustainable travel
Transport Minister Norman Baker today announced £15m of new funding for sustainable travel projects across the country that will promote economic growth and cut carbon.
The investment is in addition to the £560m Local Sustainable Transport Fund announced in January 2011. This additional funding, heavily geared towards cycling, will support jobs, enhance access to employment and encourage greater use of more environmentally friendly transport.
The paper is better than ever, more professional, carrying a profusion of by-lined articles that are intensely relevant and interesting to us oldies. Take a bow, Editor David Thomas. You and your team are doing a great job.