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1 INTRODUCTION
1. Equipment and adaptations are an important part of an integrated community care service. They can enable some of our most vulnerable citizens to achieve their individual outcomes, living in their own home for as long as possible, enabling them to achieve the quality of life they wish as well as being a cost effective model of intervention.
2. User and carer participation in assessment, care planning and review lie at the heart of identifying and improving outcomes for people using community care services. Equipment and adaptations should be seen as part of the range of services and interventions that can be provided.
3. The changing demography of the Scottish population offers significant challenges to health and social care services. The number of younger people is projected to decline, whilst the number of people of pensionable age is projected to rise by around 31% from 0.98m in 2006 to 1.29m in 2031. The number of people aged 75 and over is projected to increase by around 81%, from 0.38m in 2006 to 0.69m in 2031.
4. There is evidence that equipment and adaptations, including the opportunities provided by innovative technology require them to be an integral part of mainstream community care assessment and service provision. Where this is not already in place it can result in a breakdown of care, especially during periods of transitions from child to adult services and from hospital to community settings.
5. This guidance promotes joint working in relation to the provision of equipment and adaptations. Local authority and health partners must work closely together to ensure that the provision of equipment and adaptations is a smooth and seamless process from the user and carer perspective.
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