York ‘will cope with an ageing population’

In a report published today on how councils across the UK will have to cope with extra demand for social care – and the soaring costs involved – the Audit Commission said it feared many authorities were still in the dark about how heavily their coffers could be hit.

The analysis, titled Under Pressure, also claims councils are missing out on making savings which could come from working closer with health bodies and ensuring the elderly can lead independent lives in their own homes.

But City of York Council leader Andrew Waller says that, while York has seen a sharp rise in the need for adult social care, the city is in a good position to meet the challenges outlined by the Audit Commission after finding more money to invest in this area through the ruling Liberal Democrats’ budget proposals for 2010/11.

Coun Waller said: “This report confirms what we have been saying over the last few months.

“The elderly population is rising fast and this is putting extra demands on adult social care services.

“The number of people accessing residential care in York has risen by 22 per cent in the last two years and the number of people accessing home-based care has risen by 26 per cent in the same period.

“Clearly, such rapid increases in demand will put a great strain on adult social care funding for both the council and NHS North Yorkshire and York.

“That is why we are investing an extra £962,000 in adult social care next year to meet this demand.”

The report also focused on initiatives devised by North Yorkshire County Council – providing home-based telecare systems and equipping a farmhouse to help a family look after a relative with dementia, which cost less than a month’s residential care – as examples of what authorities are capable of doing.

Michael O’Higgins, Audit Commission chairman, said: “Older people don’t want to become dependant, but councils need to help them help themselves.”