Local organisations have come together to help the council better understand how it can help people age well.

Representatives from parish councils, volunteer groups, NHS Dorset, Public Heath, Dorset transport, social care and other community groups attended the workshops in Dorchester and Wareham at the end of February.

During the workshops topics such as housing, transport, social opportunities, financial security, employment and business support for healthy ageing and wellbeing support for healthy ageing were covered.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: "Over the last few weeks, we have held two Healthy Ageing in Neighbourhood workshops to gather information about what our external stakeholders understand Healthy Ageing within Neighbourhoods means and to identify how our neighbourhoods support themselves to age well, and what support they might be missing.

"This is the start of co-production with Dorset Council social care and stakeholders within local areas to develop a Healthy ageing within neighbourhood’s plan.

"The information gathered at these events will be used to develop an Ageing well proposal for Dorset, the purpose of which is to support our communities to thrive.

"This will in turn prevent or delay our residents from needing formal services and ultimately, enabling our residents to be independent as long as possible."

 Within adult social care, there are continuous pressures in the community with the increasing numbers of over 65s in the county.

During the workshops the council wanted to define what ‘ageing well’ means for the people of Dorset and how it can best create an environment where people can live well in their local communities for longer.

It also wanted to understand the nature of the current community demands, understand what types of support and service are available to residents to help them age well.