Medway responds to government`s agenda for older people

Medway social services department has made a good initial
response to the government’s policies for older people, a new
report finds.

The report, published by the Social Services Inspectorate
following an inspection of the council’s older people’s services
during October and November last year, concludes that the service
outcomes for many users were good.

Medway’s effective partnerships with the local NHS are also
picked out for praise.

“There was an emphasis on supporting vulnerable older people to
live independently in the community,” it says. “Service users and
carers enthusiastically welcomed this.”

However, some older people – including temporary care home
residents and people receiving home care – did not have their needs
well met. There was also a problem of under-capacity of home care
and of places in homes, particularly for people with mental health
problems.

Social services managers were well-informed about the £2.5
million projected overspend for 2000 to 2001 – most of which was on
services for older people – and had agreed a strategy in response,
including a reduction in management costs through corporate
restructuring.

A spokesperson for the Kent authority said: “The report by the
SSI was fair and highlighted some helpful suggestions for further
improvements to services for older people in Medway.”