OLDER PEOPLE DESERVE ONE STOP SHOP TO SUPPORT THEIR INDEPENDENCE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Jul 2008

The future of services for older people in Sutton was discussed last Friday (18th July 2008) by older people and older peoples services providers at a consultation event organised by Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector (SCVS).

Local MP Paul Burstow, who has long campaigned both locally and in Parliament to make sure that older people get a fair deal, spoke at the event, and heard for himself what older people had to say.

Commenting after the event, he said:

"The message from older people at the consultation was loud and clear: help us maintain our independence. Timely information and assistance navigating around the NHS and social services were consistent themes.

"I think the event was also an eye opener and a reassurance to many of the older people who attended. Many left saying that they had learned a lot about the services available and had had no idea there was so much going in the borough.

"A one high profile accessible one stop shop was offered as one way to improve the flow of information. It should be easier for people to get the information they need and then the help to get round the system.

"What people told me is echoed in a study recently published by the Audit Commission; increasingly our older population is becoming more diverse, and older people can play a key part in tackling social isolation.

"Councils need to work with older people to ensure that services really do provide the support that our older people need. It was immensely encouraging to see that this is already happening in Sutton, as evidenced by the success of this event.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The consultation took place today (Friday 18th July 2008) between 10am and 3pm at the Salvation Army HQ in Benhill Avenue, Sutton, and was organised by Sutton CVS as part of the ongoing development of local services for older people and Sutton Borough's strategy for older people.

The Audit Commission's study 'Don't stop me now: Preparing for an ageing population' was published on the 17th July 2008 and can be found here: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/press/preview/dsmn/dsmn.pdf