Older people are increasingly being given the chance to live independently at home supported by telecare, according to figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
The figures show that the past three years have seen a steady increase in the proportion of older people receiving intensive help to maintain a high quality of life independently at home rather than in residential care, with nearly one third (32%) now in this group.
Inner London boroughs appear to be leading the way with all boroughs reaching or exceeding the public service agreement (PSA) target on homecare.
The figures’ publication coincided with an announcement about how much money councils are to receive over the next two years as part of the Preventative Technologies Grant, enabling social services authorities to firm up their plans for supporting more people in their own homes by using telecare.
The amounts form a share of the £80 million announced last year and the confirmation of the amounts amounts will enable social services authorities to take forward their plans for the two financial years 2006/07 and 2007/08.
The first £30m slice will be available in 2006-7. It is allocated as follows: £7.285m to metropolitan districts and cities; £4.549m to inner and outer boroughs in London and £18.166 to shire counties and shire unitary authorities.
Care services minister, Liam Byrne, said: "Our research tells us that older people want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible, and after a lifetime of work and often of service to their country, older people deserve to get what they want whenever they can. We promised to increase the proportion of people who can stay in their own home and receive intensive support, and these figures out today show that we are meeting that promise.
"I am delighted to see that a large number of councils are already meeting the 2007/08 target, and it is important that the hard work and commitment which social services staff have put into meeting this target is maintained – and built upon.
"That’s why I am pleased to confirm today how £80 million Preventative Technologies Grant is to be divided up amongst local authorities. I am setting out clearly what councils will receive to spend on Preventative Technology over the next two years, which will give them the security to deliver on schemes which provide their service users with security and peace of mind."