Services for South Ayrshire people over the age of 65 are at the heart of a strategy developed by The South Ayrshire Community Health Partnership (CHP), supported by the national Joint Improvement Team (JIT). The strategy looks at the rapidly growing number of people aged 65 and over and the services that we provide for them – now and in the future. 'Reshaping care for older people' in South Ayrshire aims to review local services so that they remain appropriate and sustainable into the future.
To tell people more NHS Ayrshire & Arran and South Ayrshire Council have launched a new information newsletter about the national strategy, 'Reshaping care for older people' and what it means for the people of South Ayrshire.
Councillor Hugh Hunter, Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Health Partnership, said: "The Community Health Partnership brings health and social services together to improve the health and wellbeing of South Ayrshire people. This newsletter is an important part of our commitment to keep people up-to-date with how the services we provide for older people are changing to accommodate their changing needs and will be distributed throughout South Ayrshire in GP and dental surgeries, opticians, pharmacies, health centres and hospitals as well as Council facilities, and on websites. Copies will also be sent to local community groups."
Councillor Nan McFarlane, Social Services Portfolio Holder said: "The number of older people in South Ayrshire is increasing and we know that it will increase further in future years. It is vital that we listen to older people to find out what services are most important to them, then plan our services accordingly.
"People are living longer and are far more active than people in the same age group were years ago, so we have to provide appropriate services, when they are needed, in the most convenient places, in the best way possible."
Jacqui Neil is the strategy's programme co-ordinator in South Ayrshire. She will be out and about in South Ayrshire raising awareness about the strategy and asking local people for their views and opinions.
Jacqui said: "We want to make sure that people from South Ayrshire receive the best and most appropriate care from health, housing and social care. We also want people to have the opportunity to actively contribute to service improvements and future developments. Our strategy looks at specific aspects of older people's services to help us to achieve these goals over the next two years."
If anyone would like a copy of the newsletter or the strategy 'Reshaping care for older people in South Ayrshire', please email:
Or visit www.nhsayrshireandarran.com