East Sussex County Council is leading the Independence First project, which will identify older people who might otherwise need to go into hospital or care and help them to live independently in their own homes.
"This project will make a massive difference to the lives of older people”, says Councillor Bill Bentley, lead cabinet member for adult social care. "Ensuring that older people who want to remain living in their own home can do so is one of our priorities."
The project will reduce the need for admission to hospital and also improve services for people with long-term health conditions. It will also focus on supporting people with mental health needs, and promote the use of technology to help people remain independent in their home.
Specialist teams will identify individuals and offer specialised services to them. Staff will be available outside normal office hours, supporting GPs to prevent the need for hospital admissions.
The Independence First project includes many different schemes around the county using a number of methods in different areas. Not all the services will be available in all areas. These schemes will then be assessed and the successful approaches extended across the County.
1. A Memory Assessment & Support Team in Bexhill which will provide early assessment and support for people who are suffering from early memory loss due to dementia.
2. Medicine management support in the Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust area to help people take their medicines correctly, keeping their independence and reducing crises that can lead to emergency admission to hospital.
3. Out of hours social care staff who will link to other new projects linked to the Eastbourne District General hospital and the Conquest hospital in Hastings to help people avoid going into hospital when the rapid provision of home care would allow them to stay at home.
4. A Falls Specialist Nurse within the A&E department of the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, a specialist physiotherapist and an assistant who will then work in the community to give follow-up support.
Many partner organisations have been involved so far in the project and will be involved in its delivery, including all the East Sussex Primary Care Trusts, mental health services, a wide range of voluntary sector groups working with older people, including Age Concern, Care for the Carers, East Sussex Association for the Blind, Rother Council for Voluntary Service and many older people from the various local older people’s forums.
Notes to editors
The funding comes from the Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) fund run by the Department of Health. The total that East Sussex County Council successfully bid for is £3.2m over 2 years starting from April 2006, with services beginning in May 2006.
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