An article examined the interaction between socio-economic resources and geography in relation to mortality among the older retired population. Regional effects on mortality were found to be dependent on socio-economic disadvantage, and were therefore apparent for the most disadvantaged pensioners: but not for the least disadvantaged.
Source: Kenneth Howse, AnaMaria Madrigal, and Michelle Lim, 'Socio-geographic variations in mortality in a large retired UK population', Journal of Population Ageing, Volume 4 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the circumstances in which older people drank; the meaning that drinking alcohol had for them; and the impact of alcohol on their lives. More research was needed to understand the social, cultural, and economic contexts of older people's drinking behaviour.
Source: Lizzie Ward, Marian Barnes, and Beatrice Gahagan, 'Alcohol use in later life – older people's perspectives', Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Volume 12 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined social inequalities in health as people aged, using longitudinal data from the west of Scotland. There was a general belief that social inequalities in health appeared to narrow at older ages: but taking account of selective mortality and employing more proximal measures of socio-economic status removed this convergence, suggesting that inequalities in health continued into old age.
Source: Michaela Benzeval, Michael Green, and Alastair Leyland, 'Do social inequalities in health widen or converge with age? Longitudinal evidence from three cohorts in the West of Scotland', BMC Public Health, Volume 11
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined inequalities in health expectancies at older ages in Europe. Substantial inequalities between countries were evident on all health expectancies. However, these differed across the disablement process, which could indicate environmental, technological, healthcare, or other factors that might delay progression from disease to disability.
Source: Carol Jagger, Claire Weston, Emmanuelle Cambois, Herman Van Oyen, Wilma Nusselder, Gabriele Doblhammer, Jitka Rychtarikova, and Jean-Marie Robine, 'Inequalities in health expectancies at older ages in the European Union: findings from the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
The inspectorate for healthcare and social care said that a significant proportion of hospitals in England were failing to provide adequate basic care to elderly patients.
Source: Dignity and Nutrition Inspection Programme: National overview, Care Quality Commission
Links: Report | CQC press release | Labour Party press release | NHS Confederation press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined the household characteristics associated with food and nutrition security in people aged 60 and over. Certain sections of the older population were significantly more at risk of food insecurity than others: low-income households, the 'oldest-old', those from black and minority-ethnic groups, those with a disability, and men living alone. Influencing the nutrition of elderly people in the home was complex and posed a major challenge to social policy.
Source: Chris Deeming, 'Food and nutrition security at risk in later life: evidence from the United Kingdom Expenditure & Food Survey', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 40 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
A report said that the National Health Service needed to do more to tackle the growing problem of drug and alcohol misuse among older people.
Source: Our Invisible Addicts, Report CR165, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Links: Report | RCPsych press release | DH press release | Addaction press release | Age UK press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Jun
A report said that many vulnerable older people resident in care homes were frequently denied access to routine National Health Service healthcare such as a family doctor, therapy, out of hours services, or specialist dementia services.
Source: Quest for Quality, British Geriatrics Society
Links: Report | BGS press release | Community Care report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Jun
A report said that age discrimination in mental health services was a significant problem that had to be addressed as an urgent priority.
Source: A Long Time Coming, National Development Team for Inclusion
Links: Report part 1 | Report part 2 | Summary | NDTI press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the extent to which co-ordination between health and social care agencies had been achieved, following the introduction of a policy initiative (the 'single assessment process') that aimed to integrate assessment of older people through the use of shared tools and procedures.
Source: Michele Abendstern, Jane Hughes, Paul Clarkson, Caroline Sutcliffe, and David Challis, 'The pursuit of integration in the assessment of older people with health and social care needs', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 41 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined 8 carefully selected interventions that formed part of the wider 'Partnership for Older People Projects' initiative (aimed partly at reducing hospital admissions). No evidence was found of a reduction in emergency hospital admissions associated with any of the interventions studied.
Source: Adam Steventon, Martin Bardsley, John Billings, Theo Georghiou, and Geraint Lewis, An Evaluation of the Impact of Community-Based Interventions on Hospital Use, Nuffield Trust
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the quality of care for chronic diseases among older people in care homes (nursing and residential) compared with that in the community. Family doctors' achievement of performance points in chronic disease indicators was poorer among patients living in care homes than for those in the community.
Source: Sunil Shah, Iain Carey, Tess Harris, Stephen DeWilde, and Derek Cook, 'Quality of chronic disease care for older people in care homes and the community in a primary care pay for performance system: retrospective study', British Medical Journal, 8 March 2011
Date: 2011-Mar
The older people's watchdog for Wales said that the treatment of some older people in hospital was 'shamefully inadequate'.
Source: Dignified Care? The experiences of older people in hospital in Wales, Older People s Commission for Wales
Links: Report | OPCW press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Mar
An ombudsman report said that there were serious failings in the care of elderly patients in National Health Service hospitals in England. The NHS was failing to meet even the most basic standards of care, with common failings in pain control, nutrition, and communication between patients and their families.
Source: Care and Compassion? Report of the Health Service Ombudsman on ten investigations into NHS care of older people, HC 778, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, TSO
Links: Report | PHSO press release | DH press release | CQC press release | Age UK press release | Counsel and Care press release | Dignity in Dying press release | NHS Confederation press release | Patients Association press release | RCN press release | Guardian report | Public Finance report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined options for the functional and structural integration of health and social care for older people.
Source: Colin Currie, 'Health and social care of older people: could policy generalise good practice?', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 18 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan