Excellent ageing
Today - 1 September - could just turn out to be special for Lincolnshire's older residents.
It marks the official launch of Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire, a new project to transform the way your services are provided.
In this special report, we look at how Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire aims to help older people enjoy an active life for longer.
As we get older, we all hope for "excellent ageing".
We dream of a comfortable home near family and friends, enough money to live on, a helping hand every now and again, good health care.
"Surely, after a lifetime of hard work, it's not too much to expect, is it?" older people ask. The simple answer is - "No, it isn't!" But how can excellent ageing be achieved?
Martin Hill, Lincolnshire County Council leader, said: "We all know that part of excellent ageing is what we do for ourselves - for example, how much we save for our retirement or look after our own health.
"But there is also a very great deal that organisations such as the NHS, local councils and charities can do to help us as we get older."
In the past, organisations tended to work independently, each providing older people with different services.
That has been changing in Lincolnshire in recent years to a much more joined-up approach.
Now, with public money in short supply, the need for organisations and communities to look at what
works best locally is greater than ever.
And Cllr Hill strongly believes that can actually be a golden opportunity to do things better, rather than something to fear.
Speaking about partnership work at a public sector conference in Lincoln, Cllr Hill said: "There have been too many examples in Lincolnshire where we have nearly crossed the threshold and not quite got there.
"We have to grab the opportunity to design something that works for the people of Lincolnshire."
When it comes to services for older people, part of that process could be Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire.
Who is involved in Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire?
The project brings together Lincolnshire County Council, the NHS, Lincolnshire Police, the county's seven district councils, the University of Lincoln, businesses and voluntary organisations.
Crucially, older people themselves are heavily involved - and have been for some time.
What is the project trying to achieve?
The project's aim is to look with fresh eyes at how services are provided for the county's growing number of older people, and to see how things can be done differently and better.
Why is this necessary?
When you have many different organisations providing services, as we do now, there are inevitably overlaps and duplication. That means money is being wasted.
It also means that older people are not always getting the kind of services they really want - whether in health, social care, housing, benefits, transport, or whatever.
Is it about saving money?
Yes - but only partly.
We all know the public sector is going to have less money to spend, so we need to get maximum value for every pound spent.
Just as importantly, Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire is about improving the quality of life for older people by making services better.
What else is involved?
Older people don't just want to be given services - they also want to make a difference.
Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire is therefore looking at what skills they have to offer, and how they can get involved in local services.
What's been done so far?
Over the summer, representatives from the public and voluntary sectors, as well as different communities, came together to talk openly.
Older people and their carers took part - they highlighted their priorities as maintaining their independence, being financially secure, and having information about support.
The Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire team is also finding out how much public sector money is currently spent on older people's services in Lincolnshire, so we know what cash is available.
What happens next?
Today's official launch of Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire in Lincoln brings everyone involved together to discuss what has been achieved so far.
The event is also an opportunity to look ahead and decide how real improvements can start to make a difference.
What kind of improvements?
Imagine an older person needing help to enable them to live independently.
Under the current system, they might need separate assessments by, for example, health, social care and voluntary sector providers.
One joint assessment would streamline the process, which is better for everyone, especially the older person.
Another example would be getting different organisations to pool their resources, opening the way to improved services at no extra cost.
If you are an older person or a carer and have ideas about possible improvements, please phone Sophie Dickinson in the Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire team on 01522 552296 or email sophie.dickinson@lincolnshire.gov.uk. Information is also available at www.lincolnshireassembly.com/excellentageing.
