Growth and development.pdf

2. Performance: Community CareBalance of care (aged 65+)Older people in residential care homes 402 20 2 393 19 2Older people in private nursing homes 546 27 2 486 24 3Older people receiving home care 1,336 66 3 1,313 65 3Older people in special needs housing 3,080 153.3 1 3,103 153.4 1People receiving a communitycare service1999actual1999-2000actual1999per 1,0001999-2000per 1,000QuartileQuartile2000actual2000-2001actual2000per 1,0002000-2001per 1,000QuartileQuartileOlder people (aged 65+) 6,481 320.5 1 6,760 336.4 1For mental health problems/dementia 288 4.5 2 335 5.3 1(aged 18-64)For physical disabilities (aged 18-64) 1,152 18 2 1,232 19.4 2For learning disabilities (aged 18-64) 374 5.8 1 369 5.8 1For drug/alcohol abuse problems 34 0.5 3 28 0.4 3(aged 18-64)The rates of older people who live in nursing and residential homes have reduced to levelssimilar to many other authorities. Since early 2000 Scottish Borders Council has purchased anadditional 50 residential and nursing home places, but the waiting list for older people hasrisen from 50 to 80. There is a high provision of special needs housing, particularly wheelchairhousing and houses with alarms. The rate of older people receiving a home care service isrelatively low, with the number of hours received about the Scottish average. A recent localsurvey suggests a significant shift away from provision of domestic support – with fewerpeople receiving home care, but with higher levels of support.The Council has recently started a best value review of home care. The current service has fewstaff on guaranteed hours and there has been a high turnover in staff. The Review comes at atime when there is a growing demand for services, particularly from older people.The waiting list for Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment continues at approximately 100 peopleat any one time. The Council is pursuing greater efficiency and effectiveness of the service,principally through self-assessment, an integrated OT service, and a joint disability store.A Borders Planning in Partnership agreement (PiP) has been adopted for joint implementationof the recommendations of “The Same as You?” to improve learning disability services. Dayopportunities are being developed in a range of ways. It is intended to develop a locality-basedlearning disability service, jointly managed and resourced. Two local area co-ordinators are tobe appointed.Following review of joint commissioning arrangements, the Chief Executive of the Health Boardchairs the joint commissioning group. Funding for a joint post is being created to support thegroup. A separate action team has been set up to tackle alcohol misuse.The Christian Brothers run a long stay facility for people with mental health problems, which isbeing reorganised. There are practical difficulties in accessing in-patient beds in Lothian, despitethe funding contribution made by Borders Health Board.218