Community Connections

Realistic Conversations About Support and Care.

Jo Cowan

Having conversations about how older adults are going to be supported and cared for in our communities now and in future has been a main focus of my working life for more than quarter of a century. Those conversations have never been more important than right now.

Caring services, staff and facilities have been facing enormous challenges, and that, in turn, has had a knock-on eff ect in the demands placed on families and on communities. It’s tempting for us, as citizens, to imagine that statutory agencies just need more money, more staff , or better ways of working to address the current, and growing, defi cit in care and support. It’s equally tempting for statutory services to see families and communities “taking on more” as a major part of the solution. Tempting and simplistic viewpoints on a complex, changing and challenging scenario.

We need to continue having realistic and honest conversations somewhere in the middle-ground of those two viewpoints. We need to fi nd a way forward.

In Lochaber, we have fabulous community initiatives supporting older people in their communities. We also have skilled, dedicated health and social care workers making a real diff erence to people’s lives. We need to be talking together about what matters to us, as individuals and communities: what we can do ourselves, the kind of support and care we need services to provide, and what we may be able to do together.

Throughout 2023, Highland Senior Citizens Network will continue working with communities and our NHS colleagues to facilitate conversations about support and care. If you, as an individual, or as a community group, would be interested in taking part in or holding an event where we have conversations about support and care for older people, please do get in touch!

Jo Cowan, Co-ordinator, Highland Senior Citizens Network Mobile: 07933 653585 Email: jo-hscn@outlook. com

ELECTRICAL RETAIL AND ELECTRICAL RECYCLING SERVICES.

SUPPORTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE TO BE AT HOME

ILM Highland specialises in electrical retail and electrical recycling services. Based in Alness, ILM has been delivering valuable services across the Highlands for almost 30 years. Our Electrical Retail shop is available online and instore and sells a wide range of new and refurbished appliances at incredibly competitive and aff ordable prices. These include washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, and refrigeration. All new appliances come with a guarantee for one year, and all refurbished stock has a warranty for six months. We can deliver to your door across Lochaber and, indeed, the whole of the Highland. We also off er a free take back of your old appliance. All of our stock online can be viewed at www.ilmhighland.co.uk/shop/ We also sell preloved Chromebooks which have been expertly refurbished to a very high standard. All appliances for sale are in stock and available to take away on the same day from our shop in Alness. Home delivery is available within fi ve working days.

ILM Highland has also provided reliable and cost-eff ective electrical waste solutions to businesses across the north of Scotland for almost 20 years. If your business is looking to dispose of any electrical waste or is implementing new electrical technology, you are legally required to ensure it is disposed of safely and responsibly. ILM are experts in compliance, ensuring that all electrical waste is treated and disposed of in line with all current legislation. Data wiping assurances and certifi cates of destruction are provided to meet necessary GDPR legislation and waste audit trails.

As a social enterprise, ILM Highland reinvests every penny of profi t back into the local community to help to deliver our charitable services which support vulnerable people to live at home independently for longer. By using ILM you are in turn helping local vulnerable people whilst supporting local jobs as well as helping our environment.

For more information please visit our website at https://www.ilmhighland.co.uk/ or call our friendly team on 01349 884774 or drop us an email at ilm@ ilmhighland.co.uk . We are more than happy to help.

ILM (Highland) is a social enterprise company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland No. SC150500 & is also a charity registered in Scotland No. SC022504. ILM (Trading) Limited is registered in Scotland No. SC559148.

Est. 1959

FERGUSON

TRANSPORT & SHIPPING

LOGISTIC SOLUTIONS, SUCCESSFUL WITH PARTNERS

65T CRANE

AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE HIRE

Crane Hire & Contract Lifting Lift Capacity of: 3.9t @ 13.6m 13.7t @ 4.2m

FOR ALL ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT: 01397 773 840

TRAFFIC@FERGUSONTRANSPORT.CO.UK