Cumbria is to host a meeting of councillors from across the North West to look at a plan for the future of adult social care in the region.
The meeting of Champions for Older People taking place in Penrith’s North Lakes Hotel on April 20th at 12:00noon gives the council an opportunity to showcase its innovative telecare service for older residents to councillors from across the North West.
Cumbria plans to roll out a mainstream telecare service to help older people remain in their homes for longer and provide family members with extra piece of mind.
Also on the agenda will be the council’s efforts to make sure older people are able to continue playing an active role in society once they retire.
“Putting older peoples’ needs at the centre of decision-making in Cumbria is essential if the county is to realise its regeneration vision,” said Councillor Oliver Pearson, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet spokesman for adult social care.
Cumbria has a significantly aging population with 1 in 3 people expected to be of retirement age by 2028 –a 62 per cent increase since 2003. The council's commitment to putting this growing number of older residents at the heart of decision-making is reflected in its work as a member of Better Government for Older People - a thriving group of organisations working in partnership to change attitudes and services in order to achieve an improved society for older people.
Cumbria County Council’s Champion for Older People, Councillor Oliver Pearson said the traditional idea of people retreating to the sidelines of society once they retire is out-of-date. “The days when people are given their gold retirement clock and with it the message that they no longer have anything useful to contribute to society are fast disappearing. Industry has already woken up to the fact that older people have a vast amount to offer and it is essential for local policy makers to reflect this fact and make sure the decisions they take work well for everyone in Cumbria.”
Cumbria County Council is one of the first local authorities in the country to appoint a Champion for Older People to each of its key service directorates - a move which puts the needs of the county's older citizens at the centre of policy making on issues ranging from transport to social care.