Supporting People Plan - Supporting Older People

• There are an estimated 9338 older people requiring support services in North Lanarkshire. Of these around 890 are estimated to have high support needs linked to accommodation (e.g. very sheltered housing support).
• The population of older people is estimated to increase by 5.7% between 2003-2008.
• The Social Work Department currently provides information, advice, care or support to over 13,000 people of whom over 1,100 people have dementia. Numbers of older people with dementia and other mental health problems are growing.
• All areas have an estimated under provision of very sheltered housing.

Table 4: Estimated Nos. of People with Housing Support Needs

Source: NLC/2001 Census/ East Lothian Council/Pathways Research, 2001

• A survey of 135 individuals in North Lanarkshire showed that among older people the main forms unmet needs for housing support included:
  • Assistance with compliance with tenancy agreement (66%) especially life skills including food preparation/storage and assistance with budgeting or money management and dealing with social work staff or relatives.
  • Cleaning of rooms and exterior windows (56%).
  • Maintaining safety and security of the dwelling (22%) such as ensuring security of home, arranging for trade persons and arranging adaptations to cope with disability.

An average of 4.5 hours of unmet housing support was assessed as requiring to be provided each week for each individual.

• North Lanarkshire Council provides the majority of services linked to accommodation and floating support services.
• There are 1929 sheltered housing support services, 1196 of which are provided by the Council and 694 by housing associations. A further 39 very sheltered places are provided by housing associations.
• The local authority provides almost 5,000 floating support places in services such as support at home, community alarms and intensive support for those with a high level of needs.
• Floating support services provided by the voluntary sector are relatively under developed. However 12 dedicated places for people with dementia are provided by this sector.
• A small number of private sector providers provide a total of 665 places.

Table 5: Nos. of Housing Support Places

Source: NLC

• The survey also showed that among older people receiving existing services the main forms of housing support currently being provided was:
• General counselling and support (100%).
• Cleaning of rooms and exterior windows (90%).
• Assistance with compliance with tenancy agreement (58%). especially life skills including food preparation/storage and assistance with budgeting or money management (and dealing with social work staff or relatives.
• Maintaining safety and security of the dwelling (34%) such as ensuring security of home, arranging for trade persons and arranging adaptations to cope with disability.

An average of 6.5 hours of housing support was being provided each week to each individual.

• Need for more very sheltered housing places.
• Need to reconfigure some sheltered housing provision.
• Services specifically tailored to the needs of those with dementia.
• A broad range of floating support services providing greater choice.
• A better range of services for those requiring intensive support.

• Better identify the needs of older people requiring housing support.
• Develop 51 very sheltered housing support places in total at locations in Motherwell and Cumbernauld for those in identified need.
• Reconfigure local authority sheltered housing support services to better meet needs.
• Introduce a range of 'SMART technology' to assist the provision of support to people in their own homes.
• Introduce housing support services for owner occupiers with identified needs.
• Extend the number and range of services providing support at home.
• Undertake comprehensive review of all services to better target service profile towards needs.

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