Strategy to help older people unveiled

A STRATEGY has been launched to help elderly people live in their own homes for longer.

The Older People’s Housing Strategy, produced by the Scottish Government and local authority body Cosla, provides a blueprint for the next decade.

It stresses the importance of supporting independent living for as long as possibles.

The strategy, unveiled by housing minister Keith Brown, comes as the number of people aged 60 and over is projected to top 1.7 million by 2035, a 46 per cent increase since 2010.

It will focus on preventive services to reduce accidents and emergency hospital admissions.

Brown said: “This national strategy for older people … aims to help them to live independently, comfortably and safely at home in their communities.”