Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership Board 7th July 2016 – Notes for NCoA

  1. An update on progress with the 2016 priorities was laid on the table. Copies can be forwarded from .
  2. Chief Inspector Amanda Ellis introduced a new Resource Pack for Dementia Friendly Employers in Norfolk. It contains lots of helpful and useful information AND lots of contacts and websites for further information, training courses and resources. Full information is available from the Dementia Friendly Norfolk website
  3. Elly Wilson, from Creative Arts East, spoke on the Norfolk Arts and Wellbeing programme 2013 – 2016.

3a.This consisted of 5 Action Research projects involving different groups of vulnerable people, two of which were older people. The projects were evaluated independently by DurhamUniversity using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale as well as “softer” reported outcomes.

3b The overall outcome from the projects was that 61% of those participating demonstrated increased wellbeing. There is more detail at and from

  1. Extending the theme of arts, culture and wellbeing, Jan Holden from Norfolk Library Service presented an impressive array of events, activities, groups and information happening at or through the library service in Norfolk, adding to the theme that involvement in arts and culture helps to reduce loneliness and isolation and improve well being. Information is available via the NCC website [ or from your local library.
  2. The final speaker, due to speak on Ageing and Engaging was unable to attend but a panel was rapidly convened to respond to questions and answers from the floor. There was a consensus that involvement in arts and culture [as a specific form of activity] can and does improve the health and wellbeing of many older people. It was accepted that more needs to be done across a range of settings, including care and nursing homes, to make the creative arts more accessible. Similarly, more needs to be done to refine the evidence to convince commissioners that there are tangible benefits to be derived from making art and culture more available to older people.

Also, the SCIE [Social Care Institute for Excellence] report on Norfolk’s Adult Care services performance in assessments, reviews and personal budgets is available at Norfolk.gov.uk/care support and health/care and assessments/independent review.

David Button. July 2016