The equality and human rights watchdog said that it had found 'disturbing evidence' that the poor quality of home care for many older people was breaching their human rights. Too many older people were struggling to voice their concerns about their care, or be listened to about what kind of support they wanted.
Source: Close to Home: An inquiry into older people and human rights in home care, Equality and Human Rights Commission | Liz Speed, Older People and Human Rights In Home Care: A report of two surveys, Equality and Human Rights Commission | Wendy Sykes and Carola Groom, Older People's Experiences of Home Care in England, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Links: Report | EHRC press release | Research report 80 | Research report 79 | ADASS press release | BGS press release | Carers UK press release | RCN press release | Red Cross press release | SCIE press release | UKHCA press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Nov
A report said that older people in Northern Ireland might face substantial costs for their care in the future that they would not be able to meet. Many people incorrectly assumed that residential and nursing home accommodation was provided free of charge. The report called for changes to the existing system, with resources that were stretched across acute, primary, and community care redirected towards domiciliary services.
Source: PwC, Social Care in Northern Ireland: A Better Future for All, Independent Health and Care Providers
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2011-Nov
Researchers examined how 9 European countries (including the United Kingdom) had reformed their home care systems, in order to fund and deliver: high-quality care; efficient and effective provision; a stronger user-orientation; an optimal balance between formal and informal care; and the attraction and retention of home care workers.
Source: Tine Rostgaard, Caroline Glendinning, Cristiano Gori, Teppo Kroger, August Osterle, Marta Szebehely, Hildegard Theobald, Virpi Timonen, and Mia Vabo, LIVINDHOME: Living Independently at Home – Reforms in home care in 9 European countries, SFI – The Danish National Centre for Social Research
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
The Supreme Court ruled that a local authority was entitled to withdraw night-time care assistance from a woman who had suffered a stroke leading to reduced mobility. She was told to use incontinence pads instead.
Source: McDonald, R (on the application of) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, UKSC 33 (2011), United Kingdom Supreme Court
Links: Judgement | ADASS press release | BIHR press release | ECCA press release | EHRC press release | Scope press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report | Nursing Times report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Jul
The equality and human rights watchdog said – based on the emerging findings from an investigation into home-based care and support in England – that there were major problems in the home care system, and that older people's basic human rights were being overlooked.
Source: Press release 20 June 2011, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Links: EHRC press release | Alzheimers Society press release | BIHR press release | Counsel and Care press release | ECCA press release | UKHCA press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper examined long-term home care utilization in Europe. Age, disability, and proximity to death were important joint predictors of home care utilization. Increasing the number of hours of informal support did not lead to a reduction in formal care utilization.
Source: Silvia Balia and Rinaldo Brau, A Country for Old Men? An analysis of the determinants of long-term home care in Europe, Working Paper 2011/04, Centre for North South Economic Research (Cagliari)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
The Welsh Assembly Government announced that people in Wales who received homecare and other non-residential social services would pay a maximum charge of £50 per week for these services from 11 April 2011.
Source: Press release 25 March 2011, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: WAG press release | WLGA press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined how the widespread introduction of personal budgets was likely to affect the market for home care. Although there were some promising signs of changes that should result in a more responsive market, there were some structural features that might act as barriers. The roles of local authorities as facilitators would be essential.
Source: Kate Baxter, Caroline Glendinning, and Ian Greener, 'The implications of personal budgets for the home care market', Public Money and Management, Volume 31 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
Researchers examined the immediate and longer-term impacts of home care re-ablement, the cost-effectiveness of the service, and the content and organization of re-ablement services. People who received home care re-ablement were compared with a group receiving conventional home care services: both groups were followed for up to one year. Although the service was effective and popular, its costs were relatively high and wiped out most of the savings it made in traditional health and social care services.
Source: Caroline Glendinning et al., Home Care Re-ablement Services: Investigating the longer-term impacts (prospective longitudinal study), Working Paper DHR 2438, Social Policy Research Unit (University of York)
Links: Report | Summary | York University press release | Guardian report
Notes: Re-ablement is a new, short-term intervention in English home care. It helps users to regain confidence and relearn self-care skills, and aims to reduce needs for longer-term support.
Date: 2011-Jan