Helping older people stay independent for longer

Why is this a priority?

Integrated Care Across Northamptonshire (iCAN) is about improving the quality of care on offer for older people in our county.

We want to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes for older people and support them to stay independent for as long as possible.

To meet the needs of adults over the age of 65, the elderly and those who are frail, the three core aims of the iCAN programme are to:

  • ensure we choose well: no one is in hospital without a need to be there
  • ensure people can stay well
  • ensure people can live well: by staying at home if that is right for them.


The story so far

With a growing and ageing population, and more people living with increasingly complex long-term health conditions, Northamptonshire’s health and social care system faces a number of key challenges today and in the near future.

We know that most of our patients want to be at home, not in hospital, and we know that we can improve the long-term health and wellbeing outcomes that we are supporting people to achieve.

We also know that we need to change the way we work to properly support the health and care needs of our county’s older residents.

The central idea is that ‘home first’ should always be the priority.

 

What’s next?

We know that it will only be possible to achieve our aims and successfully deliver the iCAN programme by working closely together as a health and care system.

It is very important that social care and community services are joined up to offer the best possible support for people when they leave hospital. Family members may also be involved to agree the right health and care plan for the individual.

 

The three key areas that make up the iCAN programme are:

  • Community Resilience: be fully supported to live independently within my community as an older person.
     
  • Frailty Escalation and Front Door: be assessed swiftly and treated effectively when I need to be so I can remain independent.
     
  • Flow and Grip: be fully aware of when I will leave hospital and what support will be given to me once I’m back home.
     

Watch this video to find out more about the iCAN programme:

 

Help us improve health and care services for older people

If you are interested in helping us to improve health and care services for older people in Northamptonshire, please fill in our engagement and involvement form.

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What our community thinks

“I could ask questions without feeling stupid. I was struggling with the health side of my [mother’s] condition and the MDT addressed many of the concerns that had been troubling for a long time.”

 

“It was useful that [mother] was there and included. Often lots of the things that have been done, have been done to her not with her. Prior to Ageing Well, [mother] wasn’t able to see that it was for her good. It helped [mother] to know that other people were concerned about her and that there were options. It was often difficult to talk to [mother] about some of the issues covered with the Ageing Well team, so this was very helpful.”

 

“In the past I felt if I go to bed and do not wake up then it’s OK really – now I have hope – the Age Well/MDT felt such a relief that someone cared – not dismissed because I’m too old – now I go to bed with a smile on my face!”

 

“I remember the fact that it was multidisciplinary team meeting. And if I remember right it was the first time it had happened and so it was refreshing and helpful… My mum could be at home so she was comfortable in her own space, it was relaxed, the people felt professional, yet warm and we were together as family and could have a discussion together.”

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