Issue - meetings

The Board received a report and presentation on the newly developed Healthy Ageing and Managing Frailty Strategy which had been developed by Together We’re Better (TWB).

The document set out a strategic approach on how we could promote quality of life and delay the onset of frailty for as long as possible. The document also showed the key themes of the strategy.

The Board were also informed that the healthier ageing theme was being led by Public Health colleagues from two Local Authorities and preliminary scoping work had commenced.

Two questions were asked of the Board for consideration:

1.         Does the Healthy Ageing and Managing Frailty in Older Age Strategy add value to the existing Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and priorities?

2.         How would the Health and Wellbeing Board wish to contribute and shape elements of the strategy that are more health service facing?

The presentation further denoted the Staffordshire Healthy Ageing and Frailty Prevention Strategy. Recommendations from the working group which looked at the Strategy included:

-      Continuing to grow community assets

-      Improving Staffordshire’s repository of information about help available in the community

-      Continuing to development Community Help Points

-      Ensuring professionals know how to access and consistently use help available in the community

-      Promoting assistive technology and other digital innovations to help older people

-      Development of a plan to reduce social isolation amongst older people

-      Development of strengths-based practice across all health and care professionals

-      Co-ordination of a large scale prevention programme to improve lifestyles

-      Challenge societal attitudes towards ageing

-      Do more to help people plan for end of life.

The Board were supportive of the Healthy Ageing and Frailty Strategy and agreed that it did add value to the existing HWBB strategy and priorities, highlighting a need to shift the current working practices to a more holistic model. Additional comments from the Board included a focus on power of attorney, earlier conversations around death and access to services. It was highlighted that education was key around older age and managing frailty and a lack of focus on lifestyle in earlier years as the Strategy focuses on what happens afterwards.

RESOLVED – That (a) the Board note the Healthy Ageing and Managing Frailty Strategy developed by Together We’re Better;

(b) the Board consider how the Healthy Ageing and Frailty Strategy adds value to the existing Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Priorities, including primary and secondary prevention and reduction of health inequalities; and

(c) the Board consider how the Health and Wellbeing Board wish to contribute and shape elements of the strategy that are more health service facing.