New framework for elderly care in NI

A new framework to improve the health and wellbeing of older people has been launched in Northern Ireland. The ‘Service Framework for older people’ will outline ways to promote social inclusion, reduce inequalities in health and social wellbeing, and improve the quality of elderly care. Speaking at the launch in Parliament Buildings, the health minister Edwin Poots said: ‘In Northern Ireland we have the fastest growing elderly population in the UK. Currently, over a quarter of a million men and women are of a pensionable age, which is nearly one in six of our population. By 2028 that will have increased to nearly one in five and by 2050 nearly one in four. Although the vast majority of older people live independently, others may require some support from family, carers or statutory and independent sector services.  ‘For carers and families it outlines what they can expect in terms of access to services and of their involvement as partners in the planning processes.’ The framework also aligns closely with the principles of the ‘Transforming Your Care’ review from December 2011. It does this through placing a key focus on person-centred care, which emphasises the importance of older people being involved in the planning of their care needs. The Framework has a number of standards in relation to: §  person centred care §  health and social wellbeing improvement §  safeguarding §  carers §  conditions more common in older people §  medicines management   ‘The framework’s implementation will assist commissioners and those with responsibility for the delivery of services in the statutory and independent sectors in achieving an integrated model of services and supports around the individual in line with the expectations of service users and their families,’ Mr Poots concluded. The framework can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/18kphJ2