Projects receive funding to support older people

Nineteen councils across England have won a share of a two year £60 million Partnership for Older People scheme, it was announced today.

The 19 new projects will help 150,000 older people receive care designed to keep them healthier for longer.

“We know, because older people tell us, that they want to live independently for as long as possible,” said Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary. “Too many older people are being admitted to hospital, often as an emergency, when this could be avoided if the right community services were in place at the right time.”

“What we want to achieve with POPP are services that avoid these crisis scenarios and that will give our older people more choice and control over their lives.”

The successful projects focus on a number of issues including:

• A shift to prevention

• Reducing emergency admissions

• Meeting the needs of socially excluded older people

They also demonstrate partnership arrangements across health and social care, which are underpinned by pooled budgets and joint commissioning and a commitment to continue to involve older people and their carers in the delivery of services.

The winning councils are:

Bradford: £1,334,000
Brent:£1,650,000
Camden: £1,546,000
Dorset: £2,394,000
East Sussex: £3,188,000
Knowsley: £1,226, 000
Leeds: £4,049,000
Luton: £861,000
Manchester: £2, 601,000
Norfolk: £2,510,000
North Lincolnshire: £870,000
Northumberland: £2,030,000
North Yorkshire: £3,000,000
Poole: £796,000
Sheffield: £3,876,000
Somerset: £1,347,000
Southwark: £1,847,000
Wigan: £1, 768,000
Worcestershire: £2,000,000