Survey on future of elderly care to be launched

RESIDENTS are being asked to have their say over the future of housing support for older people in Leicestershire.

County Hall is set to launch a public consultation to develop an accommodation strategy to cope with an ageing economy.

Figures estimate the number of people aged 75 and over will increase by nearly 40% over the next 15 years in Leicestershire.

The consultation aims to identify the general needs of older people and to develop a dialogue around all the different types of accommodation available, such as extra care, assisted living schemes, houses which can be adapted to meet future needs, and residential care.

Councillor Dave Houseman, the county council’s cabinet member for adult social care, said: “We want people to start to think now about being prepared for any changes in their life further down the line, including where they’ll be living.

“The district and borough councils, as the housing authorities, will also have a pivotal role in shaping the strategy.”

The strategy also proposes to extend or renew current extra-care housing contracts on a case-by-case basis.

Cabinet members are set to approve the consultation a meeting on Friday at 11am.

If approved, a 12-week consultation will start in July, with a report on the findings going to a later meeting.