Falkirk named best place in Scotland to grow old
Falkirk has been named as the best place to grow old in Scotland if you need residential care, following analysis of Care Inspectorate reports by the Sunday Times Care Home League Table.
Homes for the elderly in the town scored an average of 4.35 out of 6 in all categories reviewed by the Care Inspectorate, Scotland’s care watchdog, higher than any other council area.
Responding to the positive findings, Councillor Fiona Collie, Chair, Falkirk Integration Joint Board, said: “It is a credit to the close joint working of teams in our partner organisations that care homes in the Falkirk area have excelled in providing high quality care. Since the pandemic, colleagues across Scottish Care, NHS Forth Valley, and Falkirk Council have come together to provide extended support to staff and residents within care homes. From the outset, this included the formation of a new multi-professional and multi-agency team which remains in place to ensure care is co-ordinated to meet the needs of the individual.
“I am pleased to see the good work in local care homes being recognised and thank all teams and organisations involved for playing their part – without each other it would not be possible to uphold these high standards and ensure every individual in Falkirk receives the utmost care they deserve”.
Gail Woodcock, Head of Integration, Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership adds: “Last year, residents in our care homes told the Care Inspectorate their health and wellbeing is in a better position; that they are supported to achieve their needs and wishes; and they experience compassion, dignity, and respect while in our care. More recently, our community resource and housing support teams also received praise, sweeping the board with the highest possible grade in every section appraised.
“These positive findings recognise the hard work carried out by our local care teams, who are incredibly proud of the work they do. Despite the considerable challenges faced across the health and social care system, our hard working and dedicated staff continue to achieve high standards of care. We are pleased that the Care Inspectorate has recognised the achievements and continued effort of teams across Falkirk.”
More about this story
- The Care Inspectorate inspects and grades care homes in Scotland to ensure services meet high standards of care. The inspectorate’s findings and reports are available to view on its website.
- 10 of 11 local (Falkirk Council-owned) care homes were inspected within the last financial year, 2022-23. (97%)
- 79.5% of care services in Falkirk were graded good or better in Care Inspectorate inspections. (Compared to the average of 75.2% across Scotland).
- Forth Valley’s Community Residential Resources and Housing Support Service received grade 6 (excellent) in all areas assed by the Care Inspectorate in June 2023.
