CARERS FORUM IN ROMSEY

Consultation
06 March 2002

Introduction - Key Issues
Workshop 1 - Workshop 2 - Workshop 3
Appendix 1 - Appendix 2 - Appendix 3

INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION DAY
for Older people and Carers

APPENDIX 2

Issues Identified by Older People during 2001/2002

Community Support Issues

Age Concern

Use Age Concern Hall for more services for older people
Use for local voluntary services at reasonable rates
Befriending/Linking older people in the community

Choice

Real choices made with all the right information – ability to self determine life style, help without strings e.g. residential v live at home - cost/benefits

Communication

Improved communication between professionals and older people
Training and support for email links
Community support and links for older people living on their own
Mobile phones / PCs / Digital TVs / Help lines

Dignity

Respect for the individual and their innate abilities and skills
Flexible retirement age – respect skills of older people

Emergency Plan

OP to plan for the expected/unexpected e.g. ID cards, be aware of risks

Empathy

Professionals & Orgs should get alongside OP not make assumptions

Empowerment

Give OP rights, encourage independent action with support when needed

Enabling

Ensure older people can make informed decisions, take action and represent themselves

Financial Assessments

Duplicated several times, threatening, off putting, not clear

Homes

Residential/Nursing staff shortage – no continuity, no core support
Closures - concerns about effect on availability of places and cost
Concerns about cost, and type of home and need to move
Concern about raised fees using extra Government money

Information

Lots available – where to get it
Availability, comprehensive, plain language
What is available - could it be advertised
Local Information pack - need to keep up to date in the area

Listen and Hear

Listen to what older people are saying, hear what they say, act accordingly

Local Trades people

Need to identify the genuine from the cowboys; help to find services such as plumbers

Services - OP

Lots of things clash - could they be better coordinated and advertised, work together, be better planned for the benefit of older people

Support in the home

Need someone to pop in and help and be in touch
Domiciliary - sitting/cleaning/replacement relatives

Transport and parking

Effect on older people of reductions, difficulty of access, cost

Health and Social Services Issues

Alternate Therapies

Guidance needed
What is available, how or choose, how to access, where to access
Complementary therapies information and advice

Essential Services

Chiropody - Need for home service for older people

Dentistry for Carers - Availability, NHS/private, mobile

Optician - Home visiting service, Cost of glasses

GP Services

Appointments – time waiting
Home visits – difficult to get
Who to see nurse, GP, District Nurse, Health Visitor
Times of opening surgeries – why not service for people when needed
Out of hours - concerns about accessing help and support out of hours – difficulty, availability, accessibility, emergency, GP

Hospitals

Lack of spaces for older people
Lack of rehabilitation facilities
Lack of convalescence giving time to recover and go home instead of residential care
Bed blocking
Decisions made for older people rather than with older people
Lots of temporary staff
Concern about caring abilities of newly qualified nurses
In Patients - multi-disciplinary assessments – beneficial or threatening
Op need to be respected as individuals not have decisions made over their heads by people who think they know better

Continuity of care

Need rehabilitation homes back again
Lack of cooperation between health and social services
Lack of continuity between residential, day care and community
Lack of continuity between different home carers
Lack of coordination between health, social services, education and others
Need people to help at home, go shopping with older person etc
Institutional changes without consultation with clients
Cuts in services/Increase in costs constant worry for the future
Social Security advice and support needs to be ‘more human’.

NSF - Older People

What is it? How does it affect older people - either directly or indirectly
Medicines – what are they, what do they do, what are the side effects.

Services -
OP Statutory

Involve older people at all levels of Commissioning
Consult with older people before not after implementation
Consult local older people’s organisations before implementing.

Social Services

Faceless and distant - need to improve public profile locally
Difficulty in contacting social workers
Social Workers don’t continue through after assessment
Some social workers are brilliant
Difficulty in getting information and advice
Direct payments - extend to older people.

Introduction - Key Issues
Workshop 1 - Workshop 2 - Workshop 3
Appendix 1 - Appendix 2 - Appendix 3

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Consultation 2002
Appendix 2

Romsey & District Carers Forum
9 Love Lane . Romsey . Hampshire SO51 8DE
Telephone: 01794 515126
EMAIL R&DCF

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Age Concern	Use Age Concern Hall for more services for older people Use for local voluntary services at reasonable rates Befriending/Linking older people in the community
Choice	Real choices made with all the right information – ability to self determine life style, help without strings e.g. residential v live at home - cost/benefits
Communication	Improved communication between professionals and older people Training and support for email links Community support and links for older people living on their own Mobile phones / PCs / Digital TVs / Help lines
Dignity	Respect for the individual and their innate abilities and skills Flexible retirement age – respect skills of older people
Emergency Plan	OP to plan for the expected/unexpected e.g. ID cards, be aware of risks
Empathy	Professionals & Orgs should get alongside OP not make assumptions
Empowerment	Give OP rights, encourage independent action with support when needed
Enabling	Ensure older people can make informed decisions, take action and represent themselves
Financial Assessments	Duplicated several times, threatening, off putting, not clear
Homes	Residential/Nursing staff shortage – no continuity, no core support Closures - concerns about effect on availability of places and cost Concerns about cost, and type of home and need to move Concern about raised fees using extra Government money
Information	Lots available – where to get it Availability, comprehensive, plain language What is available - could it be advertised Local Information pack - need to keep up to date in the area
Listen and Hear	Listen to what older people are saying, hear what they say, act accordingly
Local Trades people	Need to identify the genuine from the cowboys; help to find services such as plumbers
Services - OP	Lots of things clash - could they be better coordinated and advertised, work together, be better planned for the benefit of older people
Support in the home	Need someone to pop in and help and be in touch Domiciliary - sitting/cleaning/replacement relatives
Transport and parking	Effect on older people of reductions, difficulty of access, cost

Alternate Therapies	Guidance needed What is available, how or choose, how to access, where to access Complementary therapies information and advice
Essential Services	Chiropody - Need for home service for older people
	Dentistry for Carers - Availability, NHS/private, mobile
	Optician - Home visiting service, Cost of glasses
GP Services	Appointments – time waiting Home visits – difficult to get Who to see nurse, GP, District Nurse, Health Visitor Times of opening surgeries – why not service for people when needed Out of hours - concerns about accessing help and support out of hours – difficulty, availability, accessibility, emergency, GP
Hospitals	Lack of spaces for older people Lack of rehabilitation facilities Lack of convalescence giving time to recover and go home instead of residential care Bed blocking Decisions made for older people rather than with older people Lots of temporary staff Concern about caring abilities of newly qualified nurses In Patients - multi-disciplinary assessments – beneficial or threatening Op need to be respected as individuals not have decisions made over their heads by people who think they know better
Continuity of care	Need rehabilitation homes back again Lack of cooperation between health and social services Lack of continuity between residential, day care and community Lack of continuity between different home carers Lack of coordination between health, social services, education and others Need people to help at home, go shopping with older person etc Institutional changes without consultation with clients Cuts in services/Increase in costs constant worry for the future Social Security advice and support needs to be ‘more human’.
NSF - Older People	What is it? How does it affect older people - either directly or indirectly Medicines – what are they, what do they do, what are the side effects.
Services - OP Statutory	Involve older people at all levels of Commissioning Consult with older people before not after implementation Consult local older people’s organisations before implementing.
Social Services	Faceless and distant - need to improve public profile locally Difficulty in contacting social workers Social Workers don’t continue through after assessment Some social workers are brilliant Difficulty in getting information and advice Direct payments - extend to older people.