IF YOU were to ask the vast majority of people heading into later life with growing health failings or disabilities how they would choose to spend their remaining years they would almost certainly say at home, preferably with family and friends rallying round to help.

That, of course, is an ideal scenario for most of us but the reality is that, for many, it is an impossible dream - either because they are too ill, they do not have the support network or they simply cannot manage on their own.

Many people, against their hopes and wishes, will be forced to rely on residential care homes and, for those who cannot afford private institutions, that means reliance on state resources dwindling in the face of a growing elderly population in every region.

So, on all counts, the idea of creating a situation where more people can remain in their own homes for as long as possible is right and proper and worthy of full support.

The proposals put forward by Bev Maybury, Bradford Council’s strategic director of health and wellbeing, are ambitious and could play a big part in helping many people to improve the quality of their later lives.

Creating community social care hubs, making best use of available technology, improving homecare services and encouraging the building of extra-care flats for the elderly are all good policies.

But, at the same time, the Council needs to find £16 million in care budget cuts over the next two years.

Sadly, providing the level of non-residential care needed while reducing the number of people in Council homes by 20 per cent looks like a very tall order indeed.