Agenda item

(To receive a report by Semantha Neal, Head of Prevention and Early Intervention, Public Health, which provides the Committee with an opportunity to consider the Centre for Ageing Better rural partnership with Lincolnshire County Council)

The Chairman invited Glen Garrod, Executive Director – Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, Semantha Neal, Assistant Director, Prevention and Early Intervention, Andy Fox, Public Health Consultant and Michelle Howard, Assistant Director – People, East Lindsey District Council to present the report which was detailed on pages 13 to 43 of the agenda pack.

Sem Neal, Assistant Director, Prevention and Early Intervention, advised the Committee that the Centre for Ageing Better had conducted a national recruitment process to identify an appropriate rural strategic partner.  It was noted that the selection process had concluded in March 2020 and Ageing Better had confirmed that Lincolnshire had been selected as its preferred rural strategic partner. 

Detailed at Appendix A to the report was a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Centre for Ageing Better, Lincolnshire County Council and East Lindsey District Council.

The Committee noted that Ageing Better also had strategic partnerships with Greater Manchester and Leeds. 

The Committee was advised that Ageing Better's vision was for 'a society where everybody enjoys a good later life'.   It was noted that the four areas of focus to support approaching later life were:

·         Live healthier, more active lives, reducing the risk of poor health, delaying onset, progression and impact of disease and disability;

·         Be in good quality work for longer, boosting savings and delaying drawing pensions;

·         Live in a safe, accessible and adaptable homes, remaining independent and active for longer; and

·         Live in communities where social relationships flourish, making it easier to build and maintain close connections as well as wider everyday contact.

It was reported that the partnership had enabled Lincolnshire to have funding for a dedicated Programme Manager.  The partnership would be able to add value, and accelerate existing plans and ambitions and evaluate what works for Lincolnshire and what does not, and the reasons for this.  The partnership would also give Lincolnshire the opportunity to engage and influence national policy and funding streams.

Appendix B to the report mapped out the Ageing Better goals, Lincolnshire's potential opportunities; and examples of work being undertaken in Greater Manchester and Leeds.

The report presented highlighted the two areas Lincolnshire would be focussing on initially as healthier ageing and safe and accessible homes.

Michelle Howard, Assistant Director – People, East Lindsey District Council advised the Committee that the programme was for five years and provided the opportunity for Lincolnshire to prepare its residents for later life and to keep them active for longer.  The Committee was advised that the Housing Health and Care Delivery Group had expressed a commitment to take forward two work tasks within the safe and accessible homes theme, on in relation to adapting existing homes, and the other in relation to age friendly new builds.

The first of these was outlined at appendix C.  It was noted that work had already been undertaken locally to improve Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and Occupational Therapy Services.  Appendix C provided a programme which would re-think approaches to encouraging people approaching later life to plan ahead, and re-design and integrate relevant support services.

It was noted that an exercise would be undertaken to understand the problems to be resolved in relation to housing in Lincolnshire.  Once the problems have been clearly identified, steps would be taken to identify feasible and scalable solutions.  Full details of the process were contained in Appendix C to the report

Andy Fox, Public Health Consultant advised that in Lincolnshire there was a gap between life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy, which indicated that for the majority of people, their later years were spent in poor health.  It was highlighted that the key causes of morbidity in older age were cardiovascular disease, dementia, musculoskeletal issues, cancers and social isolation linked to poor mental and emotional wellbeing.  It was highlighted further that many of the causes had underlying linked determinants which could be addressed preventatively and that being unwell in older age was not inevitable. 

The Committee was advised that the primary preventative approach was to target hypertension, inactivity, obesity and social isolation and that the target group would apparently be healthy older adults (aged 50 to 65) with a degree of underlying risk. It was noted that the secondary/tertiary prevention approach was to support those with identified health concerns and that the target group would be older adults with identified health concerns.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:

·         Housing market – the need to encourage estate agents in promoting existing physical support  facilities in properties better (i.e. walk-in wet room),  which would then raise the profile of what was trying to be achieved; 

·         The need to ensure that the views of local formal and informal groups were sought, as their local knowledge was invaluable. Reassurance was given that this would be undertaken;

·         Praise and support were extended to the new Type Two Diabetes pilot being rolled out  to change lifestyles;

·         Support was also extended to the need to tackle self-isolation;

·         A suggestion was made for employers to allow employees to have phased retirements, which would help older people adjust better in later life.  It was confirmed that the fulfilling work themes would be looking at this;

·         More co-ordinated approach with regard to Disabled Facilities Grants, particular reference was made to communication between the county council and district councils.  The Committee was advised that this matter was already being addressed;

·         The effect of fuel poverty.  The Committee was advised that the council had undertaken a piece of work with North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire councils and had been successful in securing external funding to help those in fuel poverty.  It was also noted that the Clinical Commissioning Group was assisting in identifying people with health conditions;

·         Good communication with Town and Parish Councils; and 

·         Outcomes from the programme.  The Committee noted that formal reports were considered by the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board.  It was felt that the Committee should have a further update report in 2021.

AGREED

1.    That the relationship between the Centre for Ageing Better and Lincolnshire, including the proposed governance arrangements be noted.

2.    That the vision and goals for the Partnership set out in the report be noted.

3.    That a further report be received at a date to be agreed in 2021.