What are the economic benefits of digital transformation in the Scotland’s adult social care sector?
Background
Adult social care plays a critical role in supporting the health, wellbeing, and independence of Scotland’s population, particularly among older adults and those with long-term conditions or disabilities.
As Scotland faces demographic shifts – notably an ageing population – the demand for adult social care services is expected to rise significantly. This trend presents both challenges and opportunities for the public sector, which has a vested interest in ensuring that care provision is sustainable, equitable, and economically efficient.
However, the economic value and social value of adult social care – which can help decision makers – is not fully understood, with existing datasets often being fragmented, inconsistent, or lacking in granularity. This can make it difficult to accurately quantify the full economic costs and benefits of care provision, the social value of care to service users and communities, assess the long-term value of different care models or understand the indirect economic impacts, such as on unpaid carers, workforce participation, and healthcare system pressures.
We, therefore, want to progress towards addressing these gaps in evidence base and understanding.
Next steps
Get in touch with [email protected]
Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Social Care Analytical Unit Areas of Research Interest 2026 2029 published 25 March 2026
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