Expanding home care for Island's elderly

Government will not shy away from its home care responsibilities for the elderly, the Social Care Minister is promising.

Consultation has begun, to assess how home care services will be provided in future, including strategies to ensure more people remain living in their own homes for longer.

The department has been criticised following the closure of Glenside residential home in Douglas after several decades caring for the elderly.

However, Chris Robertshaw says more care in the community will be provided in a variety of forms with the full support of the department, which has launched a prior information notice aimed at firms interested in providing home care services.

It's available at gov.im/treasury/procurement and is described as an opportunity to set out preliminary ideas, not an invitation to tender or express interest. The minister says he hopes to hear from as many different organisations as possible.

Mr Robertshaw says the policy's driven by falling demand for residential care and an ageing population: