Older people care scheme planned

The project aims to help older people stay longer in their communities

A project where older people look after each other rather than going into care homes is to run in the Highlands.

Called O4O Older for Older, it will be discussed at a workshop in Inverness attended by delegates from Dumfries and Galloway, Scandinavia and Ireland.

The scheme will be launched this summer in four areas which are still to be chosen.

Highlands higher education institute, UHI, will lead the European Union-funded project.

It would see neighbours and friends helping less able people by giving them lifts in their car and picking up prescriptions, but also tap into volunteer groups.

Project co-ordinator Professor Jane Farmer, UHI chair of rural health policy and management at the Centre for Rural Health in Inverness, said it would recognise efforts already made by older people.

She said: "Previous research has shown that older people already make substantial social contributions for each other in rural areas.

"This project sees them as assets who can help to sustain the vibrancy of communities by providing a range of basic support services that will assist others to live independently for as long as possible.

"Although it focuses on older people, we see O4O involving everyone and particularly linking generations to learn from each other while helping each other."

Engaging Men

Meanwhile, UHI's project to tempt more men into higher education, using courses such as canoe building, furniture making and golf could be followed up by other colleges and universities.

Engaging Men has been included in a new Scottish Funding Council case studies' report to the Scottish Government, colleges, universities and related public-sector agencies and organisations.

It has been listed as an exemplary "successful intervention" to draw more people into further and higher education.