Shropshire chosen as an ‘ageing well’ area

Shropshire is benefitting from extra support to help place older people at the heart of health and well-being planning work, after being chosen as one of 17 areas across the country to be an ‘ageing-well development area’. 

The council has signed up to the Local Government Group Ageing Well, Health and Well-Being Programme. 

As an ‘ageing well development area’, the council receives free expert support that will be used towards securing effective engagement arrangements for older people in health and well-being planning activities, and embedding this into the work of the Shadow Health and Well-Being Board as it develops. 

The board aims to improve the health and well-being of the people of Shropshire.  It joins up the NHS, social care, public health and other council and local services in assessing health needs, and planning, securing and monitoring the best possible range and quality of health services. The board will oversee the transfer of public health responsibilities and arrangements to the council. 

Partners such as Age UK and the Association of Senior Citizen Forums are involved in developing the ‘ageing well’ project in Shropshire, which includes finding out more about the activities older people value the most, how older people want to share their views and stories about health and well-being, how to make the most of the county’s existing forums for older people, and how this can be used to inform decisions made by the board and working practices in Shropshire. 

The project will run until February 2012 and the findings will continue to influence the work of the board beyond the life of the project. 

Councillor Keith Barrow, chair of the board, said:

“We want older people to be able to lead active and healthy lives.  We have an ageing population and it is paramount that we listen to what older people tell us they value the most. 

“By ensuring their voices are being heard and building these views into the work of the board, we can make sure that money is being spent where it is needed and will provide the greatest benefits and, in turn, enhance the health and well-being of older people in Shropshire.

 “Outside of this project we are seeking this input in a range of ways, including the recent extensive consultation on adult social care in Shropshire – the biggest of its kind ever held in the county.  This designation as an ‘ageing well development area’ means we can add to the work already underway to ensure that health and well-being services are ‘fit for the future’ and are better tailored to local people’s changing demands and preferences.”

The project was discussed at the meeting of the Shadow Health and Well-Being Board held on Friday 9 December 2011. 

For further information on the ageing well programme click here.  

To find out more about the Local Government Group click here.