Older Peoples Consultation and Monitoring Group

Joint Future is aiming to bring about a ‘joined-up’ health and social care service for the people of Aberdeen.  An important part of Joint Future is to involve service users, including older people, and carers in planning and monitoring services.

The Older People’s Consultation and Monitoring Group (OPCMG) has been in existence for over 2 years and now has 26 members.  It is a partnership between older people, the voluntary sector, Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian but is very much user-led.  Over 30 meetings have been held in the wider community in venues such as Community Centre, Sheltered Housing complexes and voluntary organisations.

A few examples of the Group’s work and achievements

• Informed older people in the community about Joint Future
• Gained agreement that Personal Home Carers will undertake SVQ training to enable them to do basic foot-care tasks
• Service user feedback influenced the final version of the Single Shared Assessment which is a key aspect of Joint Future
• Service user comments influenced the final version of hospital discharge information that is given to people who have to go into a care home
• £10,000 has been obtained from the Common Good Fund towards setting up an Internet Café for older people.

A few examples of the Group’s ongoing work

• Assisting with the set up of the Internet Café
• Giving comments and feedback to NHS 24
• Providing ‘Voice and Choice’ training to members of the OPCMG to assist them in attending Joint Future management meetings
• Reaching out to elders from ethnic minority communities to inform them about Joint Future
• Being involved in a review of social work services in hospital

How can I get involved in the Group?

The Group meets once a month, in an afternoon, at Froghall Community Centre, Powis Terrace.  All travelling expenses incurred by attending meetings can be re-claimed.

Any older person is welcome to attend the meetings, or receive the meeting minutes.

Would you like some more information?

Contact the Group’s facilitator, Gordon Edgar and he’ll be delighted to discuss the Group further with you:

Gordon Edgar

Development Officer (Service User and Carer Involvement) Strategic Leadership Aberdeen City Council

74-76 Spring Garden

Aberdeen AB25 1GN

Tel.: (01224) 538055

gedgar@aberdeencity.gov.uk