Growth and development.pdf

2. Performance: Community CareBalance of care (aged 65+)Older people in residential care homes 837 25 1 779 23 1Older people in private nursing homes 882 27 2 839 25 2Older people receiving home care 2,604 78 2 2,539 76 2Older people in special needs housing 2,111 63.6 4 1,443 43 4People receiving a communitycare service1999actual1999-2000actual1999per 1,0001999-2000per 1,000QuartileQuartile2000actual2000-2001actual2000per 1,0002000-2001per 1,000QuartileQuartileOlder people (aged 65+) 4,433 132.1 4 5,955 177.5 3For mental health problems/dementia 517 4.1 2 556 4.4 2(aged 18-64)For physical disabilities (aged 18-64) 779 6.1 4 813 6.4 4For learning disabilities (aged 18-64) 520 4.1 2 724 5.7 1For drug/alcohol abuse problems 65 0.5 3 71 0.6 3(aged 18-64)The rate of older people receiving a community care service is low, in comparison to manyother authorities, though it increased between 1999 and 2001. The numbers of older people inresidential or nursing homes is falling but rates remain relatively high. The rate of older peoplein special needs housing is low and has fallen significantly between 1999 and 2000. Olderpeople in Highland are as likely to receive home care support as elsewhere in Scotland but theintensity of support available per week is less than in other parts of Scotland.The balance of care is relatively weighted towards residential provision. Following a strategicreview of community services for older people commissioned jointly with NHS Highland, aninterim report (spring 2002) recommended a shift of resources away from residential care. TheCouncil decided to:• implement developments in the home care service as a priority;• appoint a development manager;• formulate a training strategy; and• introduce guaranteed hours.Increased joint working with health has produced:• a Rapid Response Team of social work, occupational therapy and physiotherapy professionalsworking together with support staff and carers, which provides assessment, intensiverehabilitation and home care support for up to 28 days; it takes referrals directly from GPs,hospitals and social work staff;• a joint occupational therapy store; and• community rehabilitation teams.144