All Our Futures - Plymouth’s strategy for the over 50s

There are growing numbers of older people in society, and we feel this is something to celebrate!

We’ve produced a draft strategy to pull together the work we are already doing, and to identify any gaps in the services we provide. The strategy will be supported by an action plan, which will be regularly reviewed to ensure progress is being made and that the activities we’re involved in are relevant to people’s needs.

We are calling our strategy 'All our futures - Plymouth’s strategy for the over 50s'. We’ve listened to a lot of people during the course of developing it, and during April and May we are inviting further comments before we produce the final version.

We are basing our work for the over 50s on a number of key principles:

• The people of Plymouth should be able to look forward to leading a full and active life-style as they get older.
• Older people should be valued as active members of the community - who are able to contribute as well as be supported.
• Older people should be able to easily access a wide range of life opportunities and services such as leisure, transport, housing, employment, education, social activities, and health promotion.
• Older people and their carers should be assured that the city will provide flexible support and care services to respond to their individual needs when they or their family need them.
• Specialist help should be arranged within the community promoting independence and a return to active life as far as is practically possible.
• Older people will be treated with dignity and respect.

How needs have been highlighted

In developing the strategy, we have looked at the results of research and consultation activity from over the past couple of years. Importantly, we have also listened closely to what people have had to say through a series of workshops and events carried out between January and April this year.

We have also worked closely with the University of Plymouth who have carried out some in-depth work with people receiving services from us. Results of this work are being used to support our strategy.

'All Our Futures' has service user views at its core, and our departments and partner organisations will consider how to meet these needs alongside our Service User Reference Group.

Themes highlighted through consultation

• The need for better information to raise awareness about services and opportunities for older people - including a single access point or 'one-stop-shop'.
• Transport systems that take the needs of older people into account.
• Doing more to ease isolation of older people.
• Doing more to help older 'community energisers' to support their peers.
• Improve the ability of older people to access computers.
• Locally based services and facilities with an emphasis on accessibility.
• More opportunities to engage in volunteering, adult education and other leisure opportunities.
• Enabling older people to shape future service provision - including people who are seldom heard.
• Encourage valuing and respect for older people.
• Timely interventions when and where they’re needed to promote good health, enable financial planning into older age, and to prevent loss of independence and isolation.
• Encourage more opportunities to meet and mix with the younger generation to reduce fear and barriers.
• Housing and housing related support plans that meet the varied choices and needs of older people in relation to their living environments.
• Work with city employers to engage them in achieving active ageing goals.

Consulting regarding the draft strategy

The draft strategy can be downloaded from the documents table below.

Alternatively paper copies of the draft plan can be posted to people upon request by telephoning 01752 305546 or email us at consults@plymouth.gov.uk.

Please send your comments using the contact details provided on this page. The closing date for comments about the first draft is Friday 16 May 2008.

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