Adult care 'revolution' a step closer for Gloucestershire
SERVICES for vulnerable and older people could be made available in their own homes as part of a bid to revolutionise the way they are cared for.
Shire Hall bosses have given the go-ahead to district and borough councils to talk to service providers about being more flexible.
It follows criticism of the current system that money intended to help individuals has increasingly been used to support buildings, such as sheltered accommodation facilities.
As a result, people have been forced to move out of their own homes so they can benefit.
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It is hoped the new shift, outlined in the county council's supporting people strategy, will make better use of funds and allow people to stay living in their community. Councillor Paul McLain (Charlton Kings, C), deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for vulnerable families, said the aim was to keep people in their own home.
And he insisted it would not mean access to sheltered accommodation would be cut by the county council.
He said: "One of the problems in Gloucestershire is that the money is intended to support individuals but, over the years, it has been increasingly used to support buildings and services instead of the individuals who need it.
"At the moment, we have wardens in some of our sheltered homes and they are serving the building.
"Where that is failing is that there are a lot of people there who don't need that sort of support but, at the same time, we have more people living in the community that may benefit from a warden being around.
"This is about putting the services in to the community, getting the right services to the individuals wherever they are, rather than saying 'if you want this service you have to live in this home'. What we know is that when people leave their own homes, their health often deteriorates.
"So having someone that can check on you, giving them that absolute reliability and certainty, that will help people stay in their homes, maintaining their dignity and independence also."
"We are keeping the same funding so it is not about cuts; it's about making the current system work smarter."
Comments
by Shireresident
Monday, December 17 2012, 11:37AM
“Read the weasel words here folks. Vulnerable people will get timed visits from carers who are on the clock and will spend more time on the road between clients. some of the costs saved in scrapping homes will be negated quite rightly by the need to pay the staff mileage. The worst aspect of this is the ;oss of meaning ful care and social contact for often isolated recipients. This is a real hidden poison pot and recipe for neglect.”