Campaigners predicting a ‘crisis’ in elderly care

Scotland urged to rethink its approach

Scotland must rethink its approach to caring for older and dying people in order to avert a “crisis”, campaigners have said.

A new report by a coalition of organisations has made a series of recommendations for improving the delivery of health and social care for people living with a terminal illness and their carers.

Marie Curie, the Association of Palliative Care Social Workers, Hospice UK and MND Scotland say too many people are missing out on specialist end-of-life care and coordinated, creative solutions are needed to tackle the challenge of an ageing population amid rising pressure on public funds.

The report said: “We are concerned that these many challenges cannot be met now, or in the future, solely by finding more money for more statutory services. Scotland faces a crisis in caring for older and dying people.”

It highlights that of the 57,500 people who die in Scotland each year, 80% would benefit from some form of palliative care but 25% of those will not receive the necessary services.

Last year, a total of 276 people died while waiting for their social care packages to start while others waited over a year.

The report also identifies a “postcode lottery” for personal care charging for those under 65 who have a condition not seen as terminally-ill.

Among the recommendations is a call for social care packages to start immediately when they are needed and be adaptable to changes, as well as for improved sharing of patient information between health and social care teams.