Infrastructure Delivery Plan (Feb 2013) - Runnymede Borough Council

decline in the number of people using the service meaning the provision has had to
evolve to enable it to be sustainable and be an offer that is desirable to an increasingly
active and independent age group. Traditional services are still offered as they are
required at a later stage in retirement but a more active provision has come in to fill the
gap.
14.71 A large number of volunteers support and enable the provision offered at the day
centres in the Borough and are an important resource, as the range of activities could
not be offered without them. The Council continues to meet significant budget
challenges in 2013/14 and a plan is being formulated to reduce the base budget by £1
million over the next two financial years. This includes proposed savings on the Grant
Aid budget (which core funds voluntary organisations) of £30,000 over the financial
years 2014/15 – 2016/17. As a result of this, the Orchard Centre, Chertsey was closed
in June 2011. Free transport has been provided to people who used this centre and
they now can access the same services at one of the other three centres across the
Borough.
14.72 In April 2012 The Orchard Day Centre was re-opened as a dedicated centre for people
with dementia (predominately later stages) and those who care for them. This is run by
the Alzheimer’s Society. The centre operates from Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
excluding Bank Holidays. There is a high staff to client ratio and all staff are trained in
dementia care. Support is also provided to the carer, with monthly support groups to
share experiences and access advice and support. Age UK also occupy the Orchard,
utilising this as a base for the support they provide for older people in Runnymede. This
is a good example of RBC adapting a current service that they could not sustain to a
new function that is very much needed in the Borough.
14.73 A Wellbeing Centre is also provided at the Manor Farm Centre, Egham. This service is
offered for early stage dementia care and provides memory clinics, a meeting space for
carers and drop in support from the Alzheimer’s Society. Again RBC provide the
building for this service but the service itself is provided by partner organisations, SCC,
Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society.
14.74 The development of this approach is in line with recommendations of the National
Dementia strategy, which focuses on early diagnosis and specialist health and social
care services. Alongside partner agencies such as Age UK and the Alzheimer’s Society,
RBC has been able to provide a service that fulfills a number of the criteria of a
Dementia friendly community, outlined in the strategy 52 .
14.75 Other agencies such as Age UK, Citizens Advice Bureau and Benefits Advisors are
regularly on hand at these centres to provide residents with advice and support to
complete forms, and enable them to access the support and services they are entitled
to.
14.76 Community Meals: This service provides hot meals seven days a week for people
who are housebound or who are unable to cook for themselves. The charge for a two
course meal is £3.80 a day, Monday to Friday and £4.00 at weekends (at April 2012). A
frozen meal service is also offered for those who wish to cook their own meals as and
when required, and also for those who require a meal at the weekend; these are also
delivered by the same team of drivers who deliver the hot meals. A flexible service is
offered with Community Meals available on a permanent basis or for a short period of
time dependant on individual needs.
52
(source: http://www.local.gov.uk/ageing-well)
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Runnymede IDP DRAFT – February 2013