Early Intervention Might Help Older People

Prevention is always better than cure and in the case of healthcare for older people could save the government millions of pounds. Similar proposals to give intervention support to families with children and young people are already put forward, so why not, argues Stephen Burke of the Guardian do the same for older people?

The proposal to give help and support to those aged from 0 to 19 has been recommended by Graham Allen Labour MP for Nottingham and director of United for All Ages. His recommendations include an independent early intervention foundation to be launched next year funded by the Government and the private sector.

Similarly argues Mr Burke a programme aimed at preventing falls and hospitalisation in older people will improve the quality of older people's lives and health, delivering care in their own homes and avoiding hospitalisation. It would also be an incentive to private investment, which compared with the scheme to help children and young people could see relatively fast returns.

Such a scheme could really change the way society supports its older members so that it is earlier and more effective, paving the way for a social policy that is the basis for integrated health and social care.

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