The results of the year-long best value review of 24 hour care services for older people will be discussed at City of York Council's Approvals Committee on October 30 and will consider proposals for an improvement plan with investment in the services over the next three to five years.

The comprehensive review of social care and housing services, covering services including nine elderly persons homes, residential and nursing care, sheltered housing and day services, looked at options for how the needs of older people can be met in the longer term.

The report identified that York is 'greying' more rapidly than other cities regionally and nationally, with the number of people over 85 years expected to rise by 17% in the next ten years.

The options for consideration include; Provision of specialist services in one or more of the council's residential homes to cater for older people with mental health problems. Providing a wider range of short term rehabilitation services to help people regain or retain their independent living skills, either at home or in residential homes Developing more day activities to improve people's physical and mental well being Developing a greater range of extra care housing as an alternative to residential care Encouraging the development of high quality housing for older people in the city Greater use of new technology to help people remain independent in their own home. The options must also meet the new care standards set by the Government in its 'Fit for the Future Strategy', involving major capital expenditure over the coming years.

Councillor Bob Fletcher, Executive Member for Social Services said: "This best value review has challenged not only how we provide services but also why we provide them. This report gives us a clear picture of what older people want in the future and tells us that the current configuration of services, however, good they are, will not meet all their needs and aspirations in the long term.

"We need to start the work now to bring about the changes which need to be made over the coming years and we have a great opportunity to use this review as the basis for work in partnership with colleagues in the NHS and providers in the independent and voluntary sector."

The review included a major consultation exercise, which considered the views of older people in their 70's and 80's as well as those in their 50's and 60's to ensure the options meet the future, as well as existing, needs of older people.

The results of the consultation highlighted that older people should be enabled to live in their own homes, having access to transport and local facilities. There was still a role for residential care and those people who had to move should move to high quality, independent housing in their local area.

Any decision made by councillors next week will need further consultation with customers and tenants and will require the council to work closely with a number of partners.

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