Making sure older people’s voices are heard

Age Scotland is the leading charity for older people in Scotland. We ensure older people’s voices are heard, challenge ageism and discrimination, and put older people at the heart of everything we do.

Via our free helpline – Silver Line Scotland 0800 4 70 80 90 – and network of more than 900 member groups around the country, we listen to what older people want and support vital services that aim to help everyone get the most of out later life. Our information team puts together free factsheets on a range of issues, including social care, housing and benefits. 

At a regional and national level we’ve got people engaged with policy makers to ensure older people’s needs are considered when making decisions. We are currently a member of the project group that is reviewing the standards for care for older people in hospitals, for example. Our aim is to assist older people to be happy and healthy, supporting them to live independently at home for as long as possible, and helping them to overcome the barriers of isolation and loneliness. But when treatment and hospital care is needed, we want to ensure that older people feel well informed and well looked after.

The recent Audit Scotland report on reshaping care for older people shows that in 2012/13 alone, there were171, 132 day case admissions and 232,402 emergency admissions to hospital of people aged 65 or over. Older people are a major recipient of hospital care and as such, their feedback on the treatment that they receive deserves to be voiced.

That’s why we’re launching a Patient Opinion widget on our website to encourage more of those we’re connected to, to feedback positive or negative experiences of their time, or a loved ones time, in hospital. By highlighting both good practice, and shining a light on areas of concern, we believe services like Patient Opinion are key to building a better picture of how hospitals in Scotland are treating our older population, and ensuring it continually improves.

 

 For more information about Age Scotland please see our website.