Estimated studying time: 6 minutes
On this weblog instalment we interview Donald Macaskill to seek out out extra about his work because the CEO at Scottish Care and his views on know-how use within the social care sector.
It offers perception into:
- Donald’s background in well being and social care and the issues he’s enthusiastic about.
- How know-how interfaces with care and a few of the present points and limitations.
- His focus areas for the 12 months forward supporting the social care sector.
We reside in an ageing society. However what does that actually imply?
Within the subsequent 20 years the steadiness of younger and previous will shift to the purpose the place there can be one aged individual for each two folks of working age. The problem this presents is two-fold, a discount in relations capable of present help and a smaller pool {of professional} carers.
TL Tech is a Sensible Houses Options supplier with a distinction. We assist folks get the perfect out of sensible dwelling applied sciences and create distinctive dwelling environments to satisfy their wants and funds. Our imaginative and prescient is to “create a house that cares for you as you age”.
Sensible dwelling applied sciences have the ability to remodel lives, particularly for the weak in our society. This weblog sequence can be seeking to showcase the alternatives, discover out extra in regards to the folks working on this area and the way we are able to create a world the place “sensible meets form®”.
How did you get into working in social care?
I’ve a background in psychology and dealing in studying incapacity and palliative finish of life care. My work has at all times centred round folks and specifically supporting those that could also be excluded, folks on the perimeters and the margins.
What’s the most rewarding a part of your job?
Probably the most rewarding factor is with the ability to work at a really particular person person-centred stage.
What does wholesome ageing imply to you?
It needs to be about wellbeing, it must be a holistic strategy. Within the context of know-how, it’s not about operate alone, it’s about what that permits me to do and who I’m as a person.
There’s a normal notion that aged individuals are know-how averse, what’s your expertise?
I don’t imagine that is true, folks need ease of entry, clear goal and explicit private profit. In the event that they don’t see that they are going to be disinterested.
In the mean time we’re not giving sufficient consideration to the actual wants of individuals as they age within the client know-how that we’re creating.
There was an enormous progress in client electronics that help wellbeing and web linked units that assist in the house. Do you see a spot for these types of applied sciences in supporting assisted residing and supply of care?
At Scottish Care we see know-how as an enabler of relationship moderately than a replacer of relationship. After I take into consideration know-how it needs to be one thing that’s including worth to who I’m as an individual and what I wish to do and who I wish to be. After I consider those that require help due to incapacity or age or every other attribute, I’m searching for know-how that permits independence. I’m not search for fancy gizmos and sadly this give attention to units and merchandise, makes many lose contact with the significance of the relational dimension.
Entry to digital services and products is quick changing into important to the way in which we reside. How can we be sure that components of our society will not be left behind?
Because the pandemic there was an important emphasis on getting units for folks. However there are two fundamental points that we’re not addressing as a society. One is connectivity, in that we assume there’s enough web protection. The opposite is accessibility, we have to be extra cognisant of points like visible impairments, listening to and dexterity. Many units can be heavy to carry.
One other associated difficulty is how we strategy knowledge safety, privateness, autonomy, particular person management. Everyone knows about Greta Thunberg and the work that she does to lift consciousness about local weather change. I don’t suppose it’ll be lengthy earlier than somebody like Greta essentially calls into query how third events deal with our knowledge. The youthful technology are far more knowledgeable in regards to the worth of their knowledge.
Do you could have a favorite ebook, writer, blogger or podcast?
I’m a dipper particularly these busy days and so for me any assortment of poetry every day conjures up me. However I additionally discover looking and discovering brief items on Twitter a improbable useful resource,
What do you love to do exterior of labor?
I chill out with a superb piece of music and within the absence of reside music that’s by my headphones. I’m additionally fortunate to reside 2 minutes from a seashore so want I say extra in regards to the freedom and peace that brings.
What are your high ideas for sustaining wellbeing?
Tech can by no means change contact. So, I believe it’s vital to seek out time to chill out and change off; distract your self with what fulfils you and work at remaining linked – by speak and presence if doable.
Do you could have any resolutions for 2021?
I’ve an inherent private suspicion of creating resolutions as I believe psychologically to take action within the depth of winter whereas we should always all be hibernating may be fairly damaging. However placing that philosophical concern to 1 aspect, my precedence for this 12 months, each personally and professionally, in three phrase is to Protect Social Care. I’ve considerations in regards to the political points, the chance that care turns into medicalised and we then lose sight of the distinctiveness of social care which is about enabling folks to fulfil their wellbeing not simply to be clinically secure. I wish to get to the tip of this 12 months with social care being recognised as one thing which is of equal value as healthcare. And meaning funding, prioritising it and appreciating it for what it’s and what it contributes.
Speaking to Donald, it’s clear he’s very enthusiastic about empowering folks to reside impartial and fulfilled lives, the place they’re handled with dignity and their wants revered.
Some key takeaways from our dialogue embrace:
- Relationships – Social care is about relationships and placing the individual on the centre of the whole lot.
- Expertise – Expertise is barely a part of the answer and must be designed to accommodate our altering wants as we age.
- Preserving Social Care – 2021 may very well be a big turning level for social care.
If you wish to preserve up-to-date with Donald’s ideas and actions, he writes an everyday weblog over on the Scottish Care web site, which you’ll be able to entry right here. I actually like following them, as Donald has an actual expertise for writing and at all times manages to encapsulate how he’s feeling along with his phrases and shares his favorite poetry.
Scottish Care have a beautiful venture that they’re co-ordinating known as the Social Care Backyard. It will embrace a Social Care Mosaic for the Care Futures Backyard. The idea got here out of the Collective Care Futures programme as a strategy to think about and create a shared imaginative and prescient for the way forward for social care in Scotland. You possibly can contribute to the Social Care Mosaic right here: https://scottishcare.org/social-care-mosaic/ Should you favored this submit, take a look at our web site for extra technical recommendation and our Alexa tutorials on our Youtube channel. You can even subscribe to our mailing listing to be notified when now we have new posts and help materials out there.
