Councils of Care: Planning a Local Government Strategy for Older People"Council of care" is the report of a review of local government policies undertaken jointly by the Centre for Policy on Ageing and the Institute of Local Government Studies. It outlines the most important areas of current practice, highlights initiatives that could provide a model, and provides an informed basis for discussion of policy and decision making in the immediate future. The first section of the report examines the implications of the crisis in the welfare state and considers the pursuit of cost effectiveness in local government. The second part concentrates on how local councils can maintain and improve the quality of life of retired people, by ensuring that transport, planning, leisure and the police service are sensitive to their needs and limitations. Two chapters on housing review the case for and against sheltered housing, the role of the private sector, "staying-put" options, and the need for surveillance. Part three considers the services required by the frail ederly, and reviews the community care debate and developments in home help, meals services, day care, residential care, social work support, and some of the innovatory alternatives. The final section considers the crucial issue of co-ordination between local government departments, and between local government and other agencies. Only by close collaboration and effective strategic planning can retired people be served in such a way as to ensure the best use of scarse resources. [4e de couv.]. |
Contents
The strategic role of local government | 3 |
Ten million people | 10 |
Principles to guide policy | 20 |
Copyright | |
14 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
accommodation achieve activities Age Concern alarm systems Alison Norman areas assessment benefits carers cent Centre for Policy clients co-ordination cost-effectiveness costs Council Social Services County Council Social day centres dependency DHSS disabled domiciliary effect encourage environment Eric Midwinter expenditure facilities frail elderly health and social HMSO hospital informal Institute involved leisure Lewisham library services living local authorities long-term luncheon club major Malcolm Wicks meals meals-on-wheels ment mobility Muir Gray National Health Service needs of elderly neighbours Newcastle City Council Newcastle-upon-Tyne non-Metropolitan Districts Norman Fowler number of authorities old age older organisations pensioners personal social services Policy on Ageing population present priority private sector problems range recreation residential homes residents responsibility retired role schemes sheltered housing Social Services Department social workers specialist statutory services Stockport Stoke-on-Trent survey television licence voluntary warden welfare Wiltshire County Council