DARTMOUTH CARING ‘VITAL’ AS TOWN’S ELDERLY POPULATION GROWS TO 35.8% – REPORT
Dartmouth’s elderly population will increase to 35.8% by 2024, making the role of Dartmouth Caring all the more important according to a new independent report.
A report from the Council for Voluntary Services Commission in Devon on Dartmouth Caring and the services it offers said that the increase in the elderly population in Dartmouth made the charity’s role in the community increasingly important.
This increase will be more pronounced in Dartmouth than elsewhere in the country – which is predicted to have an elderly population around 25 percent in 2024.
The report paints a rosy picture of Dartmouth Caring’s work: ‘Dartmouth Caring is undergoing a rapid expansion of its services - a reflection of both demand and the quality of its services. [It is] helping older people remain socially active and remain in their own homes for longer. The charity is innovative – developing new services in response to changing demands.’
Dartmouth Caring Manager and Co-ordinator Alison Stocks said: ‘We are delighted that this report has shown our services are making a positive impact on the lives of people in Dartmouth and the surrounding district. The population of Dartmouth is older than most and our volunteers and staff are making a difference every day.’
First published March/April 2012 By the Dart
