All our futures - planning for a Scotland with an ageing population

Alzheimer Scotland's briefing on the Scottish Executive's policy document for an ageing population

Introduction
The Scottish Executive carried out a public consultation on the strategy for an ageing population in spring 2006. This follow up policy document sets out a strategy for addressing the ageing population, whilst accepting that this is the start of the process and the document does not have all the answers. It acknowledges that inaction is not an option and that planning of services and infrastructure are necessary to address the demographic changes. It also recognises the diversity of the older population in terms of health and opportunity.

Coverage of dementia
Chapter one lists the projected increase in the number of people with dementia under the demographic and social context.

Chapter five (improving health and wellbeing) has a short section on dementia that includes:

• Current and projected number of people with dementia (Alzheimer Scotland projection used for 2040).
• “Good for you, good for your brain” is mentioned briefly.
• Development of an Integrated Care Pathway and accreditation process for dementia care (available 2007).
• Scottish Executive’s pilot programme with DSDC to improve dementia services (evaluated 2008)

Chapter one – the introduction provides the demographic and social context for the strategy. This includes the increase in life expectancy, increase in disability and increase in the number of households over 65 years. This chapter also sets out the ‘core challenges’ which are ageism, equality and diversity, links between the generations, rurality and geographical isolation, lack of knowledge and information and closing the opportunity gap.

Chapter two – sets out the challenges for government, local authorities and public services:

• Challenges for government include leading the debate and communicating the issues based on evidence and analysis, working out the overall national strategy and striking the balance between the roles of the State, the community and the individual.
• Challenges for local authorities, public sector and public services include building local democracy through effective engagement with local communities, working in partnership, developing long term outcomes, delivering services and planning for the longer term.

Chapter three – looks at the contribution that older people can make including volunteering and paid employment. It also covers the barriers that exist including age discrimination in the work place.

Chapter five – covers the health and wellbeing of the older population. Any references to dementia are given above under the heading ‘coverage of dementia’. The strategy aims for an increase in health life expectancy and identifies the same measures as our risk reduction campaign as a way of trying to achieve this. Improving long term conditions is presented as the main challenge in the health care of an ageing population, with a focus on better support at home for people with long term conditions and their carers.

Chapter six – looks at care, support, safety and protection. In terms of care it covers Telecare services and Direct Payments as examples of good practice. It also looks at community safety and elder abuse.

Chapter seven – covers housing, transport and planning infrastructure.

Chapter eight – looks at opportunities for lifelong learning and how it can be developed to meet the needs of an ageing population.

Chapter nine – sets out the way forward and identifies immediate priority actions. These priority actions include inviting local authorities to explore the potential of an ageing population in their area and to consider the further development of local strategies. Also the establishment of a National Forum on Ageing to monitor the development and implements of ageing strategies across Scotland.

Links between generations (chapter four)

Purpose:

• Encourage mutual respect by sharing experiences and understanding between the older and younger generations.
• Community safety and fear of crime.
• Greater role and value in society for older people.
• Passing on Scottish culture and language.

Measures include:

• Establish a Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice to promote best practice in intergenerational work, encourage training and sharing of skills.
• Volunteering to provide opportunities for older people and personal development for younger people. Promote the interaction between organisations working with older and younger people to ensure benefits for older volunteers within youth work projects.
• Encouraging schools across the country to build and develop ongoing relations with older people. Encourage local authorities to work with schools and the new Parent Councils (from August 2007) to help identify the role that parents, grandparents and others, such as older adults in general, can play in supporting the school.
• In building the new curriculum, take account of the benefits of using the ideas, skills and experience of older people as a source of enrichment for teaching and learning.

Gaps:

• There is no mention of developing younger people’s understanding of older people’s health and long term conditions such as dementia, as Alzheimer Scotland is doing for example with our schools work and schools pack.
• The focus of encouraging older people to get involved with schools is about them supporting schools. It should also be about encouraging younger people to consider how they can contribute to their community.
• The desired outcomes of the measures are mainly to benefit younger people. There should be an equal focus on the possible benefits for older people. This should not just be about benefits for older people who are able to or wish to volunteer. There should be recognition of the different circumstances of older people, including those with long term conditions such as dementia.