Creating new opportunities to support vulnerable people
The work of a Shropshire Council-led task and finish group is driving forward new opportunities that support vulnerable people to be independent and remain living in their own homes for longer.
The council’s Safe and Confident Communities Scrutiny Committee yesterday (Wednesday 5 October 2011) agreed more than 30 recommendations following the work of the task and finish group.
The task and finish group made the recommendations after considering the medium term financial plan for 2012 to 2014. The group has looked at how the plan can be achieved for adult social care through focusing on prevention, re-ablement (maximising independence) and community based services.
Another major aspect of the group’s work has included investigating how assistive technology – which covers a range of equipment and services – can improve the lives of vulnerable individuals. The group has learned how this technology, which can be anything from a medication dispenser or electronic memory aid to a whole house alarm monitoring system, can be used to support vulnerable people to remain living independently in their own homes.
Among the proposals, the scrutiny committee approved the group’s recommendation that Shropshire Council should commit to increasing its investment in assistive technology, including introducing an integrated call monitoring service, response service and the supply and installation of equipment, and that the technology is made available to vulnerable people of all ages, as well as carers.
Councillor Joyce Barrow, chair of the scrutiny committee and task and finish group, said:
“The most vulnerable in our communities deserve and need our protection. The council and health providers have a duty to explore innovative new ways in which we can enhance the support services provided.
“Assistive technology is one way in which we can assist and improve the quality of life of vulnerable individuals. The technology is of benefit to anybody who needs a little extra help to make them feel more confident in their ability to live independently in their own home.
“The task and finish group recognises that this technology is not appropriate for everyone, but by expanding on what is currently available we can help to increase independence for many people alongside other services provided by more traditional means.
“We therefore strongly recommend that the council commits itself to driving forward the recommendations made, to achieve long term benefits and improvements to the way adult social care support is provided for the benefit of local citizens.”
The report of the task and finish group adds that it is important to maximise the benefits that people are entitled to receive, to ensure that assistive technology is affordable for everyone, and that work takes place to help ensure that the necessary supporting communications systems are in place.
Another recommendation is to roll out the Supported Discharge Service, currently a pilot provided by START (Short Term Assessment and Re-ablement Team), to all areas and hospitals across Shropshire. The pilot project currently operates in the Shrewsbury and Atcham area and provides a period of re-ablement and intensive support for a period of up to six weeks for older people being discharged from Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
The recommendations will go to Cabinet for approval later in October 2011. Progress on the recommendations will be reviewed regularly, with the outcomes of the first review to be reported to the scrutiny committee in June 2012.
For more information about assistive technology and how it can provide support in day-to-day life call Shropshire Council on 0345 678 9044 or go to shropshire.gov.uk/olderpeople.nsf
