§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what his Department considers to be the number of residential homes required to fit the needs of the elderly in England and Wales; if he will indicate for each local authority the number of homes already provided; and if he will estimate the number still required.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department does not specify the numbers of residential homes required; it is for each authority to decide its level of provision in the light of all other forms of services available and of the characteristics of the local population. Statistics of the numbers of elderly people supported in residential accommodation by local authorities in England at 31 March 1980 are contained in the DHSS publication "Personal Social Services Local Authority Statistics RA/8011", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance his Department is giving to voluntary organisations which provide community care services for elderly people.
§ Sir George YoungVoluntary bodies providing community care services locally normally look to local authorities for any supplementation of the funds they may raise from private sources. The Department provides substantial assistance for a number of national organisations concerned with the welfare of elderly people. Usually this is by way of a contribution towards headquarters expenses but in certain instances assistance is given towards the costs of a regional network of field officers whose function is to develop and co-ordinate local service giving and to create new service providing groups.
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§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to encourage the elderly to make more use of the full range of community health services which are available.
§ Sir George YoungThose in the best position to encourage elderly people to use these services are the health and social services staff who are in touch with them individually. Both the White Paper on elderly people "Growing Older" and the priorities handbook "Care in Action" have recently stressed the importance of the community health services to elderly people and their families; and together with the forthcoming departmental study on community care, they should help to ensure that thought is given locally to securing the greatest possible benefits for elderly people from these services.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study has been made of elderly people continuing to use day hospitals when they no longer have any medical reason for so doing.
§ Sir George YoungTwo recent studies found that some elderly patients were attending day hospitals when they no longer needed to do so. In the light of this the White Paper on elderly people "Growing Older" recommends that health authorities review the functioning of such provision, in consultation with local authorities, to consider ways in which it might be used more effectively.