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ITEM CC8 - ANNEX 1

EXECUTIVE – 3 APRIL 2002

Older People’s Strategy for Oxfordshire

The aims of the strategy are

Principles 

Age Discrimination

  • We will be alert to age discrimination and challenge it when it occurs
  • We will expect that older people can do what younger people can, but we will plan for those who would like help to achieve this
  • Policies and procedures will not exclude anyone, on the grounds of age, from activity or services planned for adults

The Image of Ageing

  • We will recognise, promote and value the strengths, skills, talents, experience and contribution of older people
  • We will encourage a positive view of older people as useful, as an asset and raise their profile within our organisation
  • We will use positive images towards achieving this

Work and lifestyle

  • We will promote the development of flexible opportunities which fit with older people’s lifestyles
    • to enable older people to work
    • to have worthwhile use of their time and talents and
    • to learn

We will promote inclusion of older people in the life of Oxfordshire.

Involvement and Participation

  • We will use the knowledge and experience of older people by actively engaging a range of them in the planning and delivery of services.
  • We will respect and value the time and commitment volunteered in this activity by allowing time and adequate information for discussion.
  • We will consult in a timely fashion to ensure opportunity for real influence on those decisions which are negotiable.
  • We will listen to older people and let them know the outcomes of involvement and consultation.

Information and Communication

  • We will improve access to information for older people, in plain language, offering a variety of options to meet different needs and preferences, utilising and improving the use of existing channels where possible
  • Personal communication and forms will be subject to the same standards
  • We will ask for feedback on information provided and use this to improve
  • We will co-ordinate the provision of information across departments and agencies and aim to produce information by topic rather than departmental boundary
  • We will be clear about the link between funding available and service provided in order to manage expectation 

Accessible Services

  • We will work to ensure public services are welcoming, accessible and appropriate to older people with their various characteristics and preferences
    • The fit and able
    • Those from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities
    • The frail and disabled
    • Those with impaired vision or hearing
    • Those who are isolated or housebound
    • Those who are poor
    • Those with mental health problems or learning disability
    • Those who are carers
  • We will work in partnership towards the provision of seamless services to simplify access  

Social Inclusion

  • We will promote opportunities to maximise income and thus choices for older people by raising awareness of benefits entitlements
  • We will recognise the relationship between clear, ‘jargon free’ communication and social inclusion
  • We will recognise the impact of this strategy on social inclusion
  • We will recognise the value of outreach services in engaging with the most excluded

  • We will promote opportunities for learning for older people, in particular new skills
  • We will use older peoples skills in mentoring and encouraging the young

Health and Social Care

  • We will work in partnership to simplify access to services in both sectors
  • We will enable vulnerable older people to remain as independent as possible with a range of preventative, rehabilitation and recovery services, including equipment
  • We will recognise the value ‘of a little bit of help’ for many older people 

Transport

  • We will recognise the key importance of appropriate, flexible, accessible and timely transport for older people in all activity outside the home and bringing others to the home
  • We will plan transport in partnership with older people ensuring the needs of older people are addressed
  • We will consider transport requirements when planning services

Housing

  • Housing provision for older people will be planned by City/District Councils and Housing Providers with the long term needs of older people in mind and according to the principles of the strategy.      

JENNY LEE

31st October 2001

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