People from South Lakeland will have an opportunity next Monday (8 September) to give local MP Tim Farron their ideas on how care and support services for the elderly should look in the future.
The event, at Age Concern's South Lakeland office on Finkle Street in Kendal, is linked to Cumbria County Council and Government consultation, and is part of a major new Age Concern campaign called 'The Big Q' - a challenge to politicians to give a commitment to improve the quality of life for older people.
The Big Q sets out five building blocks for the foundation of a new quality care system in its recent report, 'Quality not Inequality':
•respecting people’s dignity
•enabling people to maintain their independence •ensuring fairness for all who need care •giving clarity about getting the support you need •increasing the amount of money available to provide quality care
Invitations have been sent out to adults from across tje south lakes, and the conclusions from the discussion day in Kendal will form part of a countywide report to the county council's Adult and Cultural Services. Invited audiences have already met in Carlisle, Appleby and Workington, where the local MPs were on hand to listen to what people had to say. More meetings are planned over the next few months.
Across the UK, there will be 50 debating sessions in total, of which Cumbria is hosting 6.
It will also feed into a nationwide consultation the Government is currently carrying out on these issues before it puts forward new proposals for the future of care services next year.
As well as MP Tim Farron, the county council's head of older people's services Graham Hodkinson will also be at the event.
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The event runs from 10am - 1pm, with breaks at 11.15am and 12.30pm.
Alison Lister, Cumbria County Council media officer on 01228 226335 email alison.lister@cumbriacc.gov.uk
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Alison Lister, Media Officer on 01228 226335 or David Day, Age Concern, on 01946 66669 email research@ageconcern-nwc.org.uk