That was the key message from a report heard by the North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board’s Performance, Finance and Audit committee this week (Tuesday, 14 February).

At 75%, the area has the country’s second highest proportion of adults with complex, long-term needs who receive their personal care in their own homes. This allows them to live as independently as possible and stay connected to their communities.

Public engagement exercises carried out by Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire (HSCNL) have shown top health and care priorities for local people are being in control of the care they receive and being supported to maintain independence and manage their care needs.

A number of key initiatives are playing a role in ensuring that residents are supported to live independent lives at home as long as possible. One of these, the Home Assessment Team, is an innovative new approach being rolled out across North Lanarkshire.

Members of the multi-disciplinary team visit eligible people within two hours of being discharged from hospital. They can spend up to a fortnight analysing what supports the person may need to live as independently as possible at home to avoid further hospital admissions.

Another programme, Planned Date of Discharge, ensures more people receive a planned date for discharge as early in their hospital journey as possible. The focus is on developing a fully integrated person-centred package of care in local communities rather than staying in hospital when clinically fit for discharge.

Also playing a key role in delivering more treatment in the community and helping people remain at home are the Integrated Rehabilitation Teams. These multidisciplinary teams deliver a range of specialist rehabilitation treatments to support early hospital discharge planning or, where possible, help avoid hospital admission altogether.

Brian Moore, chair of Performance, Finance and Audit committee, said: "Our commitment is to help people remain in their own homes and be a part of their communities for as long as possible.

“We always put the person at the very heart of everything we do, and we’re dedicated to providing the best possible care for those who use our services.

“Working closely with voluntary and independent sector organisations we can provide high quality community-based care. This reflects our collective commitment to improving the quality of life for those with long-term and complex needs in North Lanarkshire.

“This partnership working allows a more comprehensive approach to care, ensuring that everyone has access to the support they need to live as independently as possible.

“The key point here, is that this is what people are telling us they want and we’re dedicated to meeting their wishes. We know they want to live at home while minimising hospital stays. By listening to their feedback North Lanarkshire is now one of the country’s best performing area in helping our residents meet this goal.

“We also now have more than 50% of people aged 65 or older receiving 10 hours or more of care at home in North Lanarkshire, making it the second highest percentage in Scotland. Our long term investment will further support this trend and allow even more people to receive the care they need while remaining in the comfort of their own homes.

“This way of working – with people who use our services and our partners - builds more inclusive and resilient communities which reduce future reliance on statutory agencies and services.

“It’s important to record our thanks to all the staff and carers who have made such a positive contribution in tackling problems at the root and equipping people to lead better, more independent lives.”