Norfolk Set For Massive Shake-Up Of Care Services For Older People

Council bosses are set to unveil ambitious plans to create an extra 2,480 care places across Norfolk as part of a long-term strategy to transform residential care to meet the needs and aspirations of older people in 2020.

Members of Norfolk County Council’s Adult Social Services Review Panel will be asked to approve the plan taking into account the projected increase in the number of older people and their rising expectations about acceptable physical standards of accommodation.

The number of people aged 85 and over in Norfolk is projected to increase by 54% by 2020, and although the quality of care offered in all Norfolk County Council’s care homes is rated as either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ by CSCI, the Council believes that the standard of accommodation no longer meets older people’s expectations.

Council members will decide on Monday how best to provide the extra 2,480 care places.

Chris Mowle, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services said: ‘Norfolk is facing a massive increase in demand for different types of residential care alongside an ever tightening budget. We cannot sit back and do nothing about this – as a commissioning organisation we are responsible for providing a comprehensive long-term strategy for residential care homes to ensure that we can meet future needs.’