The importance of home care services is being marked with the designation of today as Homecare Day, which the organisers say is a celebration of all that care at home teams do for the people who, for assorted reasons, need extra support.

The online event has been organised by Scottish Care, the Scottish government, and the Care Inspectorate with the theme of the day being ‘homecare voices'.

Scottish Care says this is an opportunity for those who work in this area, along with those who are receiving this care to be heard and for others to listen to their experiences.

Scotland’s health secretary says work is underway to address some of the challenges facing the sector which he says he is committed to seeing thrive.

The day also acknowledges the work of home care teams in allowing those who have been discharged from hospitals to continually receive high quality care within their homes and avoid being unnecessarily readmitted.

Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care, says the homecare sector is undervalued and often ignored despite its importance, and the dedication and commitment of staff, and they must be continually heard in order to prevent change.

“Sometimes people think of care at home as offering supports and care such as helping someone get up in the morning, or prepare their meals or to support personal care needs. It is all of that and these are critical tasks but it is so much more.

“Homecare and the amazing women and men who work in services help people they support to remain connected and independent, part of their local communities and families.

“The staff are a lifeline to so many thousands across Scotland today and they are women and men who in their work allow others to flourish and thrive.

“As a whole community we owe so much every day to these amazing women and men.”

Homecare is a necessary and vital role within the healthcare system and community that allows those in need of support the chance to hold onto their independence in their own homes for as long as convenient.

Scottish Care says dramatically rising costs of running a car has become an area of very real operational concern for those providing critical care and support in communities.

“People expect 24 hour a day care when in fact we are paid to carry out three hours of care a day,” a care home director has told healthandcare.scot.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf, said:

“I want to thank everyone working in homecare services for their commitment, compassion and professionalism during these challenging times.

“We know the immediate pressures facing people in the social care sector, and the Scottish government has been working on a range of projects to address these, including support for recruitment, additional funding for Hospital at Home, work to enhance Self-Directed Support and improved entry pathways into social care.

“I want to thank everyone working in social care for their continued hard work and dedication to your profession. Together we can ensure a thriving homecare sector.”

 

Read more: Changes to care funding 'potentially dangerous'; Care packages unmet in staffing crisis; Care review: Call to go further on care home fees;

 

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