Abstract
Background: South Ayrshire has a rapidly aging population with one of the highest dependency ratios in the world (reaching 88% by 2040) and 30% of the population expected to be over 75yrs by 2040. Traditional health and care models are no longer sustainable. South Ayrshire HSCP is working with communities and system partners to radically transform supports and improve outcomes.
Audience: The workshop is aimed at anyone who lives, works or contributes to planning and delivering services in countries that have an ageing population.
Approach: We will share our experience of developing our "Ageing Well Strategy," commissioned by our Community Planning Partnership, with the aim of creating places, spaces and communities to enable people to thrive into older age. Built on strong partnerships between Health and Social Care Housing, Voluntary Sector, local private industry, police, fire service, transport and education the strategy has brought partners together to think differently, delivering cost neutral innovations that will deliver better outcomes and save system costs in the long term. With 150 older people sitting on three locality based champions boards, we are empowering communities to move from passive engagement to active participation and leadership in developing and delivering ideas to strengthen community and personal resilience. Leadership at all levels to build trusting relationships and a common sense of purpose have been key. The Community Planning Partnership has enabled partners to formalise the commissioning and oversight of the work. A 10min video captures the range of partners involved, the level of engagement at all levels and the impact that the work is having.
Outcomes: As a result of our approach we have delivered:
- 200 units fully accessible housing development with other council and private developments in the pipeline.
- private businesses providing seats and access to toilets for older people on the high-street.
- access to community activities and information about services through our CONNECT model.
- retirement planning conversations to enable people to continue to make a contribution to their community.
- entrepreneur support to enable people to transfer skills and set up micro-enterprises.
We are working with University of West of Scotland and Stirling University to support the evaluation of our work.