STORRE Collection: Electronic copies of Economics policy documents.Electronic copies of Economics policy documents.http://hdl.handle.net/1893/294252024-03-18T08:38:05Z2024-03-18T08:38:05ZScottish Care Homes and COVID-19Bell, DavidHenderson, DavidLemmon, Elizabethhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/311832021-04-29T03:02:31Z2020-05-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Scottish Care Homes and COVID-19
Author(s): Bell, David; Henderson, David; Lemmon, Elizabeth
Abstract: Key Findings • As with other parts of the UK, COVID-19 has caused a significant increase in deaths in Scotland, particularly amongst older individuals. • Scotland’s care home sector has not expanded in response to demographic change: rather the focus of care provision has moved to care at home. • Many of the characteristics of the care home sector in Scotland are similar to those in the rest of the UK. • The COVID-19 epidemic has spread to the majority of Scotland’s care homes. • The impact of COVID-19 on deaths in care homes lagged those in hospitals but have now surpassed deaths in all other settings. • Although the total number of deaths is now declining, the share of care home deaths in the total continues to increase. • Excess mortality during the pandemic has been high in all settings in Scotland, but has been particularly high in care homes. • Non-COVID deaths in hospital settings have declined during the pandemic, which may be the result of re-orienting hospital activity towards dealing with the immediate crisis. Increased deaths in other settings, including care homes, may have been the consequence. • Whereas care homes have been particularly affected by COVID-19, there has also been significant excess deaths attributed to causes other than COVID-19 outside hospitals and care homes. Specifically, there have been 616 non-COVID “excess deaths” in care homes and 1,320 such deaths outside care homes and hospitals. Given the age profile of deaths, these are likely to have been concentrated among the oldest old. • Scotland, unlike England, does not report the number of deaths of care home residents who die in hospital and elsewhere. If the shares of such deaths are similar across both jurisdictions, then the number of care home resident deaths in Scotland attributable to COVID-19-would be significantly larger.2020-05-01T00:00:00ZScottish people's priorities and preferences for food safety informationErdem, SedaRadu, MadalinaMoore, Matthewhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/304412021-04-29T02:38:10Z2019-10-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Scottish people's priorities and preferences for food safety information
Author(s): Erdem, Seda; Radu, Madalina; Moore, Matthew
Abstract: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is an independent public sector food body working for consumers in Scotland. The organisation ensures that information and advice on food safety and standards, nutrition and labelling is independent, consistent, evidence-based and consumer-focused. For communication to be effective, an understanding of the target audience’s knowledge, behaviours and attitudes is essential. In order to fulfil its primary role of consumer protection, FSS undertakes a broad range of consumer research and audience segmentation to augment this understanding. To add to this body of evidence, this research was undertaken by the University of Stirling in 2017, co-funded by FSS, and sought to identify: • What food safety issues the public prioritises • What types of information individuals feel would influence their food handling behaviour • Where the public claim that they would like to hear more food safety issues This briefing summarises the findings of that study, focusing on consumer opinions, attitudes and preferences for information sources on food-related issues. The findings contribute to the existing body of evidence on consumers in Scotland’s preferences for food safety information and where to access such information. This evidence can be used when raising awareness about food safety so that it not only increases the reach of information but also encourages the adoption of safer practices.2019-10-01T00:00:00ZOlder people, Social Isolation and Loneliness in Scotland Insights from the Healthy Ageing in Scotland (HAGIS) studyDouglas, ElaineBell, Davidhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/294262021-04-28T12:20:20Z2019-03-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Older people, Social Isolation and Loneliness in Scotland Insights from the Healthy Ageing in Scotland (HAGIS) study
Author(s): Douglas, Elaine; Bell, David
Abstract: Acknowledging the increasing recognition of social isolation and loneliness as major public health issues, the Scottish Government’s policy document A Connected Scotland (2018) sets out a strategic approach to tackling loneliness through building stronger social connections. The strategy recognises that although that social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, particular groups of people, including those living alone, those who have been bereaved, and those with socio-economic disadvantage, are among those at increased risk. In seeking to build a Scotland where individuals and communities are more connected, the strategy identifies a series of priorities; empowering communities to build partnerships; promoting positive attitudes and tackling stigma; creating opportunities for people to connect; and supporting infrastructure that fosters connections. This briefing, drawing on initial findings from the Healthy Ageing in Scotland (HAGIS) study (www.hagis.scot), presents headline statistics identified through the data, and demonstrates the significant potential of the project for informing policies in Scotland. The Healthy Ageing in Scotland (HAGIS) study is the first comprehensive cohort study of older people in Scotland. In its pilot phase, the study interviewed over 1,000 people aged 50 or over in Scotland, with permission to link the survey data to administrative data including health (inpatients, day cases, outpatients, A&E and prescriptions), social care (social care census), tax and benefits. Collectively, the study’s data presents a rich source of information has the capacity to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing instances of loneliness and isolation among older people in Scotland.2019-03-01T00:00:00Z