Care Creates: Rights at the Heart of Great Care

Across Scotland, social care plays a vital role in supporting people to live well, maintain independence and remain connected to their communities. As part of the Scottish Care, Care Creates campaign, this week’s theme focuses on Human Rights and the important role they play in shaping meaningful, person-centred care.

At Meallmore, human rights are not viewed as a policy requirement, but as a fundamental part of everyday life within our homes. They are reflected in how colleagues support residents to make choices, maintain independence and continue living their lives in a way that feels familiar, comfortable and meaningful to them.

A changing care landscape

Social care across Scotland continues to evolve as the needs of the population change. Recent figures show that Scotland’s population is ageing, with over 328,000 more people aged 50 and over since 2011, and more than 74,000 adults relying on the independent sector for social care support. Long-term care is also becoming increasingly complex, with 63% of long-stay care home residents living with dementia.

These figures highlight the important role that care providers play in supporting individuals with a wide range of health and support needs, while also ensuring that each person is treated with dignity, compassion and respect.

Human rights in everyday practice

In a care home environment, human rights are reflected in everyday moments - from supporting residents to make decisions about their day-to-day routines, to ensuring privacy, dignity and respect are maintained at all times.

This includes:

• Supporting choice and independence
• Encouraging participation in daily life and activities
• Maintaining connections with family and community
• Providing safe, comfortable and welcoming environments
• Listening and responding to individual needs and preferences

At Meallmore, this person-centred approach underpins the way colleagues support residents across all of our homes.

Supporting Scotland’s health and care system

Social care also plays an important role in supporting the wider health and care system. Across Scotland, 1 in 23 people receive social care support, and 11.7% of hospital bed days are currently linked to delayed discharge, often while care and support is being arranged in the community.

Care homes and social care services therefore play a vital role not only in supporting residents, but also in supporting families, communities and the wider healthcare system.

Great places to live and work

Meallmore’s vision is to be Scotland’s most trusted care provider, consistently delivering excellent care in great places to live and work. This vision is reflected in the environments created across Meallmore homes, where residents are supported to live well and colleagues are supported to develop and grow their careers.

Across Scotland, around 134,000 people work in adult social care, forming a dedicated and skilled workforce that supports people every day. At Meallmore, continued investment in training, leadership development and colleague wellbeing ensures that teams feel supported and valued in their roles.

This commitment to both residents and colleagues has been reflected in recent sector recognition, including Meallmore being named a Top 20 UK Large Care Home Group by carehome.co.uk, alongside recognition at national care, hospitality and business awards. Feedback from the Care Inspectorate also continues to highlight the quality of care, environments and leadership across Meallmore homes.

Care Creates

The Care Creates campaign highlights the positive impact social care has on people’s lives every day. Care creates independence, confidence, community and connection. Most importantly, it creates environments where people feel safe, valued and supported.

At Meallmore, human rights sit at the heart of this approach - supporting residents to live with dignity, choice and independence, and supporting colleagues to work in environments where they feel valued and supported.

This is what it means to create great places to live and great places to work, and it is something Meallmore remains committed to delivering every day across our homes in Scotland.