A new scheme involving Highland councillors becoming champions for older people in their communities will launch later this year.
Members of the Highland Council’s health, social care and wellbeing committee has approved proposals for three councillors to become Older People’s Champions.
The roles, which will be introduced after the May elections, will improve interaction among older communities and boost face-to-face contact with constituents.
Charities such as Age Scotland and Scottish Older People’s Assembly have called on local authorities to create a network of people to influence change and protect the elderly’s interests.
‘Represent the tremendous diversity of the senior citizen community in Highland’
The role will require the champions to act as role models and advocate for the views and needs of the elderly, while providing information and advice to relatives and carers.
They will also highlight to the council good and bad practices within the care community.
Older People’s Champions will carry out duties for one year until 2023, where there will be a review.
Committee chairwoman Linda Munro, said: “There is no doubt that the Older People’s Champion will be a role of many parts – reaching out and into all services and agencies to represent the tremendous diversity of the senior citizen community in Highland.
“Thankfully, gone are the days of assuming a person’s age defines them and further assuming the only service they require are social services.
“Upon their introduction and completion of some initial training, champions will play an important role in gathering opinions and insights from organisations, then funnelling them to the appropriate people who can act decisively and implement change.”
