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25/02/08 : Labour to improve older people’s services
Reading’s Labour Council is looking at various options to give people more choice in their future years and help plan for them earlier and launched a major consultation on this.
It wants to empower its residents to live independently in their own home for as long as possible and ensure the provision of more housing specifically designed for older people who want to live at home or within a housing scheme that offers security and care when needed. That includes making sure there is adequate quality residential, nursing and specialist care homes for people with very high care needs.
Mike Orton, Lead Councillor for Community Care, said: "Although many people are staying fitter and healthier for longer, it's inevitable some people will need care and support services. When the time comes, it's important people have that choice on when and where their care is provided so they feel in control of their lives.
The Council currently helps carers by offering home care services, equipment to help them care safety, emergency care, advice and support and regular breaks from caring.
It also wants to explore the use of Telecare technology which uses sensors to monitor things in an older person’s home like temperature, flooding, gas, movement and falls and sends information to a computer at a monitoring centre so that if any unusual circumstances are detected, an alarm can be raised and staff alerted to a possible need for help.
Cllr. Orton says “There are 1700 elderly people getting our help and support in Reading who would not be getting it if they lived over the border, under Tory control, in Wokingham or West Berkshire. But while our Tory neighbours are cutting services to the elderly, Labour Reading is determined to honour our commitment to our senior citizens, and is looking for ways to make our support for them even stronger.”
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