SPENDING on adult social services in Barnet has increased by 25 per cent over the last five years, a report has revealed.

The cost of handling elderly and vulnerable adults has risen massively above inflation, with £22 million more spent this year than five years ago.

The report submitted to a Barnet Council health committee, detailing the challenges the borough faces in healthcare provision, suggests that the pressure is going to increase.

Councillor Richard Cornelius, the cabinet member responsible for adult social services, said demographic and social changes "on this scale" and presenting a challenge "to the whole of society".

He said the council is committed to helping elderly people stay in their own homes as far as possible.

But he added: “This will involve us looking at new ways to provide services and exploring the different roles that different groups and individuals carry - from investing more in preventative measures to working more closely with the health and voluntary sectors.

"We need people to understand the impact that lifestyle choices will have on their health in old age and to explore the changing role of communities, families and carers in the home."

Adult social services provides a wide range of services intended to help people live independently and stay healthy, from organising meals on wheels to supporting those with mental health issues.

In Barnet the needs of people who are referred to social services are becoming increasingly complex, in part because people with long-term health conditions are now living longer.

The report notes that referrals from housing services are rising, suggesting a greater need for suitable accommodation for disabled and vulnerable adults.

The council's broad policy is to enable, where possible, people to stay in their own homes and retain control of their own lives, something the report claims there is support for among those who are affected.

But most people currently receive care and support through informal arrangements and their families, which can put long term stress on carers.

Every year Barnet Carers' Centre (BCC) identifies between 500 and 700 people caring for a friend or relative in the borough.

Diane Williams, chief executive of BCC, said she is “definitely” anticipating an increase in numbers over the coming years as increasing numbers of people develop a need for support.

She said: “There is an agenda at a national level to support people who are caring for friends or family members, it just sometimes doesn't filter down to the local level.

“Over the next 20 years there is going to be a significant increase.”

She said the move towards people staying at home, out of care homes or hospitals, is what people want, but that it will have an impact on families.

She said the council have recently appointed a lead officer on carers, a “good sign” that there is support for carers.

But she added: “There is still a lot of work to be done.”

Nonetheless, the report suggests that helping people to live in their own homes will be vital in meeting the growing demands placed on social services.

“The general approach to meeting the needs of older people will be to focus on early intervention and prevention, thus enabling a much higher level of self managed care,” it says.

“This will also require better infrastructure to support carer’s needs and the development of new technology...to empower older people to stay as long as possible in their own homes.”