Making Adaptations Work for Older People in Scotland
Age Scotland launched a report to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week 2023 which reflects the need for clear advice and information, a more streamlined process across tenures, access to funding and a focus on prevention not reacting to crisis.
Age Scotland worked with the University of Stirling to co-produce this report focusing on the role of adaptations in future-proofing homes and environments for our ageing population. Together they have analysed the findings from national surveys which asked older people about their experience of home adaptations, followed by focus groups and interviews with people aged 55 and over across social and private sector housing tenures.
The report gives insight into the process of delivering adaptations at the front-line of Local Authority and third sector services in housing, health and social care. Key areas for making the process smoother were seen to include:
- Effective governance and partnership working mechanisms;
- Investment in staff resources;
- Simplifying funding processes;
- Person-led ‘say yes’ culture to adaptations.
This report concludes that understanding adaptations from older people’s perspectives is quite straight forward yet inclusive: things that make life easier and comfortable for people, especially those living with health support needs. It adds to the growing body of evidence on housing and ageing and is firmly grounded in the views of older people themselves.