The way care is provided in Leeds is changing.
People are living longer. The number of people over 65 will rise by 86% before 2050. This sounds like good news, and it is – but there’s a down side.
Half of these older women and a third of these older men will eventually need care. This puts a huge strain on social care services as they are today - they will struggle to cope with such a high demand.
Also, people are asking for change. Most of us enjoy a better standard of living than our parents and grandparents did, so we expect a lot from our care. We don’t want to be slotted into a one-size-fits-all package. We expect to be treated as individuals with the right to exercise choice and control – not just over which services we use, but over how they are delivered too.
What will the future look like?
In the future we can expect social care services to be quite different.
People will be able to:
- assess their own care needs with advice and support
- use services tailored specifically for them – not be slotted into a one-size-fits-all approach
- use their own budget to choose and buy services from the council or elsewhere
- live independently, with support on hand when they need it, and take an active part in the local community.
How will it work?
Anyone who needs care services will fill in a supported assessment questionnaire, with help from a trained professional.
Based on the answers to the questionnaire, a budget will be allocated which people can use to choose and buy their own services.
There will be a wide range of information, advice and support available at every step.