New service helps older people
Care & Repair Monmouthshire and Torfaen has a new post to deliver a service called Managing Better, designed to prevent older people suffering a crisis.
Written by Sam
—27 Apr, 2016
Care & Repair Monmouthshire and Torfaen has a new post to deliver a service called Managing Better, designed to prevent older people suffering a crisis.
Care & Repair Caseworker Dawn Grant-Crichton is based at Melin Homes in Pontypool and is responsible for helping older people access this new service, which will also be available for any Melin residents living with dementia or sensory impairment.
The service is funded by a Welsh Government Sustainable Social Services Third Sector Grant, totalling £1.25m over three years, and will help older people who live in poor housing, are frail, have dementia, a sensory impairment or are vulnerable in other ways.
Chris Jones, Chief Executive of Care & Repair Cymru commented: "This is fantastic news for older people across Wales. The partnership will allow us to reach vulnerable older people before they suffer a crisis. We are delighted that Welsh Government is investing in a preventative service that recognises that poor housing can lead to poor health, hospital admissions, visits to GP surgeries, or residential care homes. We have long argued that good housing is an important cornerstone of delivering integrated services that delay, reduce, or prevent the need for NHS or Social Services.”
Nicola Maule Care and Repair Monmouthshire and Torfaen Manager said: “Managing Better brings together a number of valuable services all designed to help older or more vulnerable people. This new role is another way that we can support older people in our local authority areas to live independently at home.”
Richard Williams, Director of Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, said: “We are delighted to be working with Care & Repair and RNIB Cymru on this important new service. This strong partnership approach means the 575,500 people in Wales who are deaf or have hearing loss can now have access to much needed support to enable them to live safely and independently at home”.
Ceri Jackson, Director of RNIB Cymru also welcomed the news, saying “Sight loss affects people of all ages, but especially older people. In Wales, one in five people aged over 75, and one in two aged 90 and over are living with sight loss, and the numbers are set to double in the next 25 years. We know that people with sight loss are at greater risk of falls and depression. That’s why this new service is timely and will provide much needed help for older people with sight loss to remain living independently at home.”