CARE HOMES ARE ESSENTIAL TO SCOTLAND’S ECONOMY & FUTURE, SAYS SECTOR BODY
Scotland has to get serious about valuing social care or risk losing the vital services, jobs, social and economic contributions it provides.
The message will be delivered at the National Care Home Conference in Glasgow today (FRI NOV 15) by Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care, the representative body for the country’s independent social care services. The 450 delegate event – the largest event of its kind in the UK - which is sponsored by the Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank, will include an address by Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport Jeane Freeman.
Unveiling a new report of the same title as the conference - ‘Essential care: the critical role of care homes” - Dr Macaskill said:
“A Scotland that invests in its people invests in care.
“The care sector is a people sector. It is also a sector that contributes massively to the Scottish economy - more than Agriculture, forestry and fishing and many other sectors.
“So why is it that we have so little focus on the need to invest in and grow the care sector? Why does it feel like businesses that care - that employ thousands of people, that are economic engines and care centres at the heart of our villages and towns - continually feel as if they are having to beg new resource, scrimp and save and be apologetic for asking for more?
“We need to get serious. We either want a world leading care sector with the best possible rights-based care or we want just enough, the sufficient, the it’ll just have to do approach.
“If we are serious about being a country that cares, then let’s grow the sector, let’s invest time, energy and resource in being the best; let’s change the record from it costing too much to contributing so much; let’s invest to ensure survival and sustainability, growth and cutting edge innovation; let’s invest in care by creating a special economic task force to make social care an economic priority .
“Let’s get serious about care or let’s finally stop pretending that we care - and be honest with those who are our most vulnerable and needy.”
The report details the role that care homes play in contributing to Scottish society and citizen wellbeing, in areas such as ethical technology, upholding human rights and tackling social isolation and loneliness. It highlights that social care is the eighth largest employment sector in Scotland, with nearly 54,000 individuals working in care home services. With over 1,100 care homes supporting over 33,000 older people in communities across Scotland, the report outlines the ways in which care homes:
- give people back a sense of community and connectedness where this has often been lost through isolation and ill health
- prioritise the respect and dignity of all residents in their practice
- provide companionship as well as complex health and social care support to individuals with a wide range of conditions
- challenge perceptions of what older people can offer and achieve.
Warning of the dangers of continuing to underfund social care, Dr Macaskill will tell delegates:
“We need to get serious. We either want a world leading care sector with the best possible rights-based care or we want just enough, the sufficient, the ‘it’ll just have to do’ approach.
“If we are serious about being a country that cares, then let’s grow the sector, let’s invest time, energy and resource in being the best; let’s change the record from it costing too much to contributing so much; let’s invest to ensure survival and sustainability, growth and cutting edge innovation; let’s invest in care by creating a special economic task force to make social care an economic priority .
To politicians and health and social care partnerships, he will say:
“Let’s get serious about care or let’s finally stop pretending that we care - and be honest with those who require support in our country’s care homes.”
Derek Breingan, Head of Health & Social Care Sector at Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank, who sponsor the care home conference added:
“Never has the role of care homes been more crucial for our ageing population with the rise in longevity and increasing ability to live with complex medical and physical conditions. The diversity of the Scottish demographics and the geography of our country also add an element of challenge.
“As strong supporters of the sector Clydesdale Bank is delighted to be working with Scottish Care to contribute to ensuring that care homes remain integral to the future of health and wellbeing for our society and also will provide a stable and rewarding workplace for those dedicated to delivering quality care.
