WELLBEING IN LATER LIFE

21 June 2007

Older people in Camden have got a month left to give their views on the services available to keep them mentally active and enjoying a good quality of life.

Camden residents are being asked to comment on the new mental health care for older people strategy. Published by Camden Council and the Camden Primary Care Trust (PCT) it estimates that 1,400 older people with dementia and over 3,000 people with depression or anxiety live in Camden.

The plan aims to improve support for people with mental health problems and prevent people from being unnecessarily admitted to residential care or hospital. It has been put together by the council, local health services and the voluntary and community sector. More help would be provided earlier to help vulnerable older people remain in their own homes near their friends and family, especially if they have more complex problems.

The strategy would see the council and primary care trust build on the recent Partnership for Older People’s Project (POPP). This really successful scheme developed eight pilot projects to help older people with mental health problems remain living independently at home.

Camden Council’s executive member for adult social care, Cllr Martin Davies, said: “Too often older people with mental health problems don’t get the help or the respect they need. This plan is about providing services that help people keep control of their lives. Whether it’s dealing with memory loss, dementia or depression we need to ensure older people get the help they need to lead happy and fulfilling lives.”

Camden Primary Care Trust’s head of commissioning, Rebecca Harrington, said: "The PCT is happy to support this consultation, which should give us valuable feedback on how to improve our services to older people who have mental health difficulties, and to their families and carers.

“People are living longer, so mental health difficulties may affect more people in their later years. It is increasingly important that we get the best results from the resources we invest in these much needed services, and to help people to cope with these difficulties as independently as possible.”

The two organisations want to hear from Camden residents about the plans. They are specifically keen to hear from older people, their carers and family and friends. To have a say people can contact Suzanne Barcz on 020 7974 6011, by email at suzanne.barcz@camden.gov.uk or in writing to London Borough of Camden, 79 Camden Road, London NW1 9ES. The consultation closes on 30 July.

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