Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian, and the voluntary and independent sectors in Aberdeenshire are seeking people’s views on their strategic vision to support older people in the future.

The Aberdeenshire Joint Commissioning Strategy will outline how the local system of health and social care for older people will change over the next ten years. The strategy is part of the Scottish Government’s “Reshaping Care For Older People” agenda launched last year.

It will describe the current system of health and social care, services in Aberdeenshire and will seek to address the challenges we face: 

• an ageing population – by 2025, the 65-74 age group will increase by 45%, the 75+ age group by 73%;
• access to and delivery of services in remote and rural environments;
• higher than average prevalence of dementia, obesity, thyroid conditions and kidney disease, with significant rates of cardiovascular disease;
• lower than average number of people seeking work, which impacts on the health and care workforce.

 Given this background, we are asking how we can improve the quality of care and support available and give older people greater choice and control over their own lives as they age.

The partners involved in this strategy believe that old age should be celebrated, as well as being respected for the experience, wisdom and value that they bring to community, civic and family life throughout later life.

The joint commissioning strategy will argue that future generations of older people should be supported and encouraged to remain fit, healthy and active citizens with informal support from families and communities, postponing and preventing the need for dependency on formal health and social care services.

It goes on to say that when people do need to access formal health and social care, they should have every opportunity to regain and maintain their independence and to self-manage their own health conditions for as long as possible.

Older people must feel confident that, throughout later life, they can exercise choice and control over their care, as well as where and how they live.  They should be able to rely on excellent standards of care when needed, delivered as close to home as possible.

The consultation document can be downloaded at this link (pdf).  It includes questions which you can answer and send to the freepost address on the leaflet.

Alternatively you can also let us know your views by completing the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PY2N7DD