The Scottish government has launched a consultation on a Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People.
Older people are being asked how health and social services should change to help make Scotland the best place in the world to grow old.
The consultation will seek views on what is currently working well and what needs to change.
This will help shape the Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People and follows a commitment to work in partnership with older people, including the Older People’s Strategic Action Forum, to identify how they want the health and social care systems to work for them in the future.
As well as older people and the organisations that support them, views are being sought from the clinicians, health professionals and social care staff who provide this care, to help ensure integrated care is available for all older people, whatever their needs and wherever they live.
“I want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow old, with older people living full and rewarding lives, contributing to society and actively involved their health and social care,” said Health Secretary Humza Yousaf (pictured).
“The reshaping and remobilisation of health services following the pandemic provides a unique opportunity to focus on this goal,” he added.
The consultation is seeking views on a broad range of issues, including:
- The impact the pandemic has had on accessing mental health services and how best to improve access to mental health services for older people
- When is a good time to have difficult discussions about planning future care needs and who should be involved?
- What could be done to improve joint working between health and social care services?
- What support would help in self-managing general health or any long term health conditions?
- How to make it easier for older people to access leisure facilities
- When thinking about palliative and end of life care in Scotland, what is working well and what end of life care and support would people want?
Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People documents be found here: https://consult.gov.scot/healthcare-quality-and-improvement/health-and-social-care-strategy/.
