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 Two projects aimed at increasing the
independence of older people are running in Kent.
The Brighter Futures Group
The first of these is
The Brighter Futures Group (BFG) which is a partnership between
KCC, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and voluntary and community
organisations.
The programme aims to support people aged 75 and over who are
living alone, in poor housing and on a low income.
By providing a range of community services, mainly delivered by
volunteers, the programme helps people stay independent in the
community and reduce avoidable admissions into hospitals and care
homes.
It seeks to reduce the isolation and loneliness that older
people can face and helps them stay comfortably and independently
in their own homes.
The programme runs in the Ashford, Maidstone,Tunbridge Wells,
Tonbridge and Malling and Sevenoaks areas. It is funded with £1.39
million from HM Treasury. Funding for BFG ceases at the end of
September 2008.
The BFG Board and project staff are developing a future funding
strategy to assist projects to remain sustainable once funding
ceases.
As projects have evolved, some have diversified and expanded
including internet cafes, more exercise classes, and Healthy
Lifestyle Sessions.
Independence through the Voluntary Action of Kent's Elders
The second project is Independence through the Voluntary Action
of Kent's Elders (INVOKE). This is a new project running currently
in east Kent and is designed to give older people greater
independence through the delivery of local services to the
community, enhancing self-management through increased choice and
control.
The project supports older people in their own homes by
increasing community services. It also aims to reduce the number of
emergency hospital admissions. It has three services within it:
- Community Matron Support Workers
- Community Information
- Liaison Assistants and Care Navigators.
Public and patient involvement has been used in a variety of
ways, and as a result key members within communities have been
selected to support each tender panel and be part of the decision
making process.
This role has supported increased knowledge to people normally
outside of the process, external to KCC; enabled a level of
understanding to be gathered ; allowed a more community, potential
service user perspective to be incorporated.
The project has worked well to involve individuals through the
development of roles in interviewing and as tender panel
members. |