THE Minister responsible for care among the elderly, Phil Hope, visited Brent last week to hear more about a service being used to support older people which aims to prevent health problems before they happen.
The Independent Care Coordination Service (ICCS) aims to spot trouble before its starts by identifying possible physical, social or emotional issues.
The service takes a holistic approach with health and social services such as GPs and social workers working together to identify those who would benefit from early intervention.
This could be someone who has just left hospital and may need support during their recovery period or someone who has been referred to the service.
The overall aim is to prevent something that could possibly lead to a hospital or care home admission and ensure elderly residents have the right type of support to allow them to live safely and independently in their own home.
Ann Rooney is just one of the residents in the borough benefiting from the service which is run by Brent Community Services and NHS Brent in partnership with Brent Council.
After having endured seven difficult operations Ann’s doctor referred her to the ICCS where she was assessed and received a range of support specifically tailored to meet her needs.
This included minor repairs to her home to prevent falls, installing smoke alarms and reassessing her benefits.
As a result Ann was entitled to an Attendance Allowance which pays for work to be done around the house and a Taxi Card that provides transport.
Ann said: “I could have staggered on coping on my own, but it would have been difficult for me and would have delayed my recovery. Now I have not given up the idea of doing anything.”
The ICCS service was introduced as part of a three year national pilot of schemes that came under the Governments Partnership for Older Peoples Project (POPP) to look at how support could be given to older people to help them stay independent for longer.
The minister also discussed the importance of ‘preventative care’ for older people and highlighted the Kingsbury Resource Centre in Stag Lane, Kingsbury, as a excellent example of a care institution offering a holistic service targeted at people over 65.
Phil Hope, care services minister, said: “Kingsbury Resource Centre shows that helping people stay active and independent is key to a people-centred care and support system. "Not only does it improve people’s quality of life, but it is cost effective and helps prevent A&E admissions.
“We will soon set out a blueprint for a new National Care Service that builds on the best elements of the current system. We are committed to creating a system that is fair, simple and affordable for all.”
