by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Thousands of Dorset residents received help from the county’s Better Care Fund in the past year.
These included 824 home adaptations to support safe and independent living; 7,500 referrals for help mainly from volunteers, including cleaning, food shopping and transport; and the installation of 1,400 technical devices in people’s homes.
Councillors have been told that the Better Care Fund had strong performance overall throughout the year although targets for emergency admission and residential care were not achieved.
The county’s health and wellbeing board was told that targeted initiatives will continue during 2026-27 to recover the position.
Sarah Sewell, head of service for commissioner for older people, told the committee that a focus on neighbourhood health plans, offering support and guidance in communities, was likely to feature strongly in the coming year, linking in with community nursing and reablement work.
Head of housing, communities and prevention, Sam Crowe, told the meeting that the challenge was looking at how much of the work connected together with guidance through the new Health Bill likely to help that happen.
He said the council should be thinking more creatively about how good work being done in the community should join up, also working with NHS partners.
“We need to be braver in coming forward with ideas… there is a real opportunity there,” he told the meeting… “we should be asking questions about how the schemes are working together and making the best use of assets in the community.”
