Autism: Elderly

Mike Gapes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to assist elderly people who are on the autism spectrum.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
The provision of services for people with autism is a matter for the appropriate local authority and national health service bodies who are required to prioritise and allocate funding for services based on their assessment of the needs of their local populations.

The “Putting People First” Concordat sets out a shared vision for the transformation of social care. It articulates the common aims and values that will guide all the participants in modernising adult social care. Ensuring individualised responses for older people including people with autistic spectrum conditions, will be part of this transformation. This may be through provision of direct payments or individual budgets should current pilots prove successful. These provide greater choice and control for people needing support, and place the person who is supported at the centre of the process.