Key points from the section covering older people and carers include:
- Home as the hub of care for older people, with more services provided at home and in the community.
- A major reduction in residential accommodation for older people, over the next five years.
- Introduction of reablement to encourage independence and help avoid unnecessary admissions of older people into hospital.
- A greater role for nursing home care in avoiding hospital admissions.
- More community-based step-up/stepdown and respite care, provided largely by the independent sector.
- A focus on promoting healthy ageing, individual resilience and independence.
- More integrated planning and delivery of support for older people, with joined up services and budgets in health and social care, and pilots to explore budgetary integration beyond health and social care.
- A holistic and consistent approach to assessment of older people’s needs across Northern Ireland and an equitable range of services.
- A diverse choice of provision to meet the needs of older people, with appropriate regulation and safeguards to ensure quality and protect the vulnerable.
- Personalised care designed to deliver the outcomes care users and their families want, with increasing control over budgets, and access to advocacy and support if needed.
- A policy review of carers’ assessments and more practical support for carers including improved access to respite provision.
- An overhauled financial model for procuring independent and statutory care, including exploring the potential for a price regulator, a certificate of need scheme and financial bonds for new entrants.
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