During 2011/12, the first year allocation of £1.7 million from the Older Persons Change Fund was confirmed to the Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership to invest in the development of community based services for older people living in the area. The money is to be used to offer a direct alternative to residential and hospital care until 2014/15 by promoting preventative services and developing improved community based services to maintain people for longer independently in their own homes and improve their quality of life.

 Social Affairs spokesperson, Councillor Andrew Nisbet said “Over the past eighteen months Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership has been very proactive and has maintained an excellent record on avoiding delayed discharges from hospital care. It has also been shifting the balance of care in favour of more people being supported to stay at home independently compared with those looked after in long term residential or hospital care.

 “With the money awarded we will be concentrating on a number of areas which will help keep older people living in their communities. We will look at falls prevention, managing medicines, equipment, adaptations, Telehealthcare, end of life care, carers support and dementia services. “The Change Fund will allow the development of community based services and maximise older people’s independence and significantly improve the quality of life experienced by our older population.”