Corporate Strategy 2022-2027
In this section
Well-being Objective 2
Enabling our residents to live and age well (Live & Age Well)
Why is this important?
- Poverty and deprivation have serious detrimental effects, impacting all aspects of well-being. Over a third of our households continue to live in poverty (35.6%), a level which has increased by 0.9% over the last ten years. This translates to around 29,500 households, suggesting that almost 600 additional households have slipped below the income threshold over the last ten years.
A large proportion of respondents to a recent consultation agreed that poverty is a problem in their respective area. - The cost of living is rising across the UK, with more working families experiencing poverty.
- According to the Census 2021, Carmarthenshire has an ageing population, whereby 11% of the county’s population are aged over 75 (above the national average of 9.8%). This will require the NHS and the Local Authority to plan for the expected increased demand for health and social care services.
Health and Social Care was indicated to be the most important theme in terms of prioritisation for investment by Carmarthenshire’s residents through a recent consultation. - The challenge is to prevent ill health, living healthy lives allows people to fulfil their potential, meet educational aspirations and play a full part in the economy and society of Carmarthenshire, many of the preventive services and interventions lie outside health and social care.
- Dementia prevalence is projected to significantly increase in the next 15 years.
- Mental ill health is something that one in four adults will experience in the course of their lifetime.
There was overall strong agreement from residents that it is important that consideration is given to supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing. - Homelessness, and the risk of homelessness, poses significant risk to a person’s well-being, negatively impacting on emotional, mental and physical health as well as indicating poor social and economic circumstances
- Access to good quality, affordable homes promotes improved health and well-being, meeting the individual needs of residents, building strong sustainable communities and places where people want to live. It is also good for the economy - in order to thrive, new businesses need easy access to its workforce and quality housing will help to attract this cohort.
There was overall strong agreement from residents that it is important that local people are supported to buy homes locally. - Good quality energy efficient affordable homes are good for the people and the environment – well insulated homes fitted with the latest innovative technologies not only serve to reduce carbon emissions but also promote affordable warmth for our residents.
- Help and support to alleviate the effects of the ‘cost of living’ crises and poverty in the County.
- Seamless integrated services between Health and Social Care.
- Accessible, inclusive, sustainable services, which promote and facilitate learning, culture, heritage, information, well-being and leisure.
- Improved preventative services to meet the demands of an ageing population.
- A reduction and working towards an end to homelessness.
- Availability of good quality and energy efficient affordable homes in the County.
- Recognise and seek to limit the disproportionate barriers faced by marginalised groups in accessing services and support which allow them to live and age well.
- Improved opportunities for all residents in literacy, numeracy and digital skills to upskill for employment.
- People are supported to take advantage of local opportunities whether it be through starting a business, gaining qualifications or gaining meaningful employment.
As a Council we will focus on the following thematic and service priorities with separate detailed delivery plans outlining our approach to making progress against our outcomes in each of the areas.
Poverty and deprivation have serious detrimental effects across all aspects of wellbeing. It limits the opportunities and prospects for children and young people and damages the quality of life for families and communities.
Poverty can be a barrier to full participation in society and is too often an intergenerational experience which poses a significant threat to experiencing positive well-being both now Andin the future.
With the added pressures of the cost of living crisis impacting residents, businesses and organisations there is a need for a fully integrated and collaborative approach to responding and supporting in the areas that we can influence.
Good quality affordable homes as well as continued significant investment in existing homes promotes health and well-being, meeting the individual needs of the residents, building resilient and cohesive communities and places where people want to live. Work to existing homes and availability of new provision across our rural and urban communities across the County will be key to enabling community resilience and cohesion.
Social care services across a range of client group areas are likely to see an increase in demand over coming years and with the sector facing significant pressures in terms of workforce capacity there is a need to focus attention and respond innovatively.
The further development of collaboration and integration with health will be essential in order to deliver the key principles and standards relating to prevention, system flow, proactive care and planned care, and long-term care. The long-term aim is to wherever possible help people to maintain their independence at home for as long as possible, prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital and support timely discharge home from hospital to ensure that those that need good hospital care can access it.
