Change Fund - Reshaping Elderly Care

Scotland’s population is ageing.  By 2031 the number of people over the age of 65 will rise by 62% and those over the age of 85 will rise by 144%.  Although decreasing  mortality rates are a good thing, the cost of caring for a growing elderly population is increasing and it has become clear that it will become unsustainable if we continue with the current system.

The Government expects the NHS, local authorities, third sector organisations and private providers to work together to implement new approaches to elderly care under its policy initiative Reshaping Care for Older People (RCOP).  The aim is to reduce acute admissions and emergency care in favour of preventative approaches based in local communities that help older people to stay healthy and safe in their own homes, if possible, or in community settings for those in need of additional care. 

At the end of 2010, the Scottish Government announced the allocation of £70m across Scotland for 2011-12 towards a Change Fund which would support the process of reshaping care for older people.  In addition to health and social work, the third and independent sectors were expected to play a key role in this transformation process and indeed, it was a condition of funding that all four partners sign off local Change Plans in each local authority area.  Third sector involvement in this programme is being co-ordinated through the newly established Third Sector Interfaces across Scotland. 

Of the £70m available, Glasgow has been allocated £7.9m from the Change Fund and a Change Plan setting out key themes and indicative funding allocations was submitted to the meet the Government deadline at the end of February.  Development of the Plan is now beginning and an Interface sub group is being established to determine and ensure there is effective contribution of the third sector in the implementation of the plan. 

We will be updating this page as this initiative develops.  For further information on this agenda, please see the links below.

Joint Improvement Team - Reshaping Elderly Care
SCVO - Third Sector Role in Delivering a Healthier Scotland

Tags: Health, Local Authority, Policy, Scottish Government, Third Sector Interfaces, Welfare