To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of the benefits of preventative and support visits for people aged 75 and over, including their potential impact on (i) life-expectancy; (ii) wellbeing; and (iii) admissions to hospital and care settings.

The recent launch of the Reform of Adult Social Care consultation paper is proposing the introduction of the offer of preventive/support visits for anyone aged over 75. The proposal is based on the recommendations of COPNI research on the Review of Legislation and Policy Guidance relating to Adult Social Care in NI (June 2015) which showed that the introduction of a similar model in Denmark reduced mortality, improved functioning and reduced admissions to care settings and hospitals among older people.

The benefits for this prevention and earlier intervention service will also support people’s independence for longer, reduce the likelihood of complex needs being developed, help people to take measures to achieve their own social wellbeing, improve opportunities for individual and societal wellbeing, reduce demand for complex needs provision and reduce costs.

This type of preventive approach will requires a significant balance shift away from transactional and reactive services with early planning and signposting in relation to social support, family carer support, community connections and local resources, health and social wellbeing, finances, advance care planning and life stage planning. This approach will be further investigated following the feedback on the consultation.