£1 Million To Be Invested In Day Services For Older People

Over the next two years £1 million will be invested into day services for older people across the city of Edinburgh. The funding will be announced tomorrow at the launch of the Day Services Review at the City Arts Centre.

The review, which has been the most comprehensive to date, recommends a clear strategic direction for the co-ordination, modernisation and investment in day services in the City of Edinburgh

The review states that day services for older people must be acknowledged as one of the key pillars of an integrated social care and health structure which will allow older people to be supported in their own homes for longer. It also says there is now the opportunity to plan more creative person-centred day services which will meet the needs and changing expectations of the growing numbers of older people in the City.

A working group which included Council, NHS, Voluntary Sector, and Older People’s Equality Forum representation contributed to the development of the report and its associated recommendations.

Peter Gabbitas, Director of Health and Social Care said: “I am confident that older people, their families and other carers will benefit from the outcomes of this review and that meaningful improvements will be made in the way that we co-ordinate and deliver day care services in partnership. Day Care Services play a vital role in sustaining Older People within their Local Communities and I am delighted that we are able to increase our investment in these vital services. ”