The Board to receive a presentation on Ageing Better Plymouth.

George Plenderleith, Chief Executive, Plymouth Guild provided the Board with a presentation on Ageing Better Plymouth.  The presentation highlighted that –

(a)        Plymouth was one of 34 local authorities competing for up to £6m to spend over the next 3 to 4 years to reduce social isolation for older people;

(b)        Ageing Better outcomes-

·           older people are less isolated;

·           older people are actively involved in their communities with their views and participation valued more highly;

·           older people are more engaged in the design and delivery of services that help reduce their isolation;

·           services that help to reduce isolation are better planned, co-ordinated and delivered;

·           better evidence is available to influence the services that help reduce isolation for older people in the future;

(c)        Highlights from the survey –

·           whilst health restrictions, lack of transport and cost were given as reasons for not taking part in activities outside the home, lack of information was the biggest barrier;

·           majority of respondents do not think that they are able to have say about the type of local services and activities available to them;

·           half of those responded to the survey were over 70 years olds and the majority were woman.

A discussion took place that the Health and Wellbeing Board was not a commissioning Board and to request the Joint Commissioning Partnership to look at some of the recommendations.  The Board felt that the Ageing Better Plymouth presentation was thought provoking with really important messages that should be built in our planning.

Agreed that –

1.         the Health and Wellbeing Board endorses the initiative and the bid by the Guild which has clear links to the board’s visions and strategy.

2.         the needs of the socially isolated are reflected in the strategic commissioning plans.

3.         the Joint Commissioning Partnership -

·                     ensures strategic alignment of the various initiatives to provide services to socially isolated older people through engagement from the partner organisations on the Health and Wellbeing Board.

·                     develops an alignment with Joint Strategic Commissioning for older people who are socially isolated with or without lottery funding.

·                     considers new models of commissioning with the Ageing Better Social Enterprise.