Older Adults Partnership Board

The Older Adults’ Partnership Board is a multi agency group set up to improve the health and well-being of older adults (aged 65+ years), and oversee and plan the health and social care services available to them in Barnet.

Carers and the voluntary sector, together with health and Adult Social Services are members of the partnership board.

The boards areas of responsibility include:

health improvement for older adults
health and social care needs of all older adults in Barnet
health and social care provision for the elderly mentally infirm in Barnet, and
working to achieve effective transition arrangements for people moving to older people’s services.

Dates and venues of next meetings

All the meetings will be from 1.30-4.30pm - Holly Meeting Room, Ground Floor Building 2, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP Map.

Tuesday 31 January 2012
Tuesday 20th March 2012

Achievements of the Partnership Board

The Older Adults Partnership Board has made progress in many areas affecting older people in Barnet. Below is a list of some of the Board's recent achievements:

Activities for older people - Older people have been working with Greenwich Leisure to improve access to leisure facilities in the borough. In early March 2009, it was agreed that free swimming sessions would be available for residents over 60 from April 2009. The Say Go scheme, a partnership initiative providing a range of fitness activities for older people in their local area has now been established. The scheme is expanding, with more venues and a wider range of activities being planned across the borough.
Health and Wellbeing - A Health and Wellbeing event for older people was held on 21 January 2009, which brought together representatives for older people and service providers to consider innovative new approaches to meeting the needs of older people in Barnet. Some of the priorities identified from the event included making sure that people who do not currently receive a service are still able to receive information about support available to them, and the creation of a health promotion network.
Dementia Project - The Barnet Dementia Project is being developed to achieve a holistic person-centered model. This puts forward a practical proposal to meet the objectives in the National Dementia Strategy.
Integrated Equipment Project - This project was set up in 2008 and is a partnership between Barnet Council and NHS Barnet to deliver, demonstrate, install, maintain, collect, and recycle equipment for daily living, medical loan equipment, and other specialist equipment. This has helped to reduce the number of individuals admitted to hospitals and residential or nursing homes by providing equipment through timely intervention.
Stroke work - There has been increased investment from NHS Barnet in support for stroke patients and their carers in the community. Work is underway to provide an Early Supported Discharge Team for Stroke patients. This team includes a stroke specialist nurse, additional physiotherapy and speech and language therapy support, as well as psychological support. This team will work closely with Adult Social Services and equipment providers. A multi-agency stroke steering group has been established.
Falls Prevention - There is a falls steering group which leads on a yearly action plan which is agreed by all partners, including NHS Barnet, the local authority and voluntary sector organisations. Age Concern Barnet (external link) is comissioned to provide a handy person scheme that looks at safety issues in people's homes. Recently Barnet Fire Service has been linked to this partnership to reach out to many more people. Tai Chi classes are offered to older people to improve balancing skills and reduce the number of falls.
Enablement home care - This will allow people time in their home to regain their independence as far as possible. It is a time-limited intervention programme of up to a maximum of 6 weeks, offered by specially trained carers, which helps people to regain their skills and abilities for daily living.
User subgroup of the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board
Extra Care Housing - The two Extra Care Housing schemes in Barnet were successfully opened in 2008.
Telecare - Progress has been made to increase the number of people using Telecare equipment. The service has been growing in the last 24 months with over 150 referrals in 2007-2008 and currently over 250 referrals for Telecare services in 2008-2009.
Personalisation - Personal Budgets are being piloted with older people from early summer 2009.
End of Life Care Project (external link)
Befriending - This project has meant that befriending schemes are now available for residents across the borough.