Independent analysts (Laing and Buisson) reportedly warned that the number of elderly people needing full-time care would outstrip the number of nursing home beds by 2005.
Source: The Independent, 24.12.02
Links: No link
Date: 2002-Dec
An article explored past trends in the provision of informal care by children/children-in-law to their older parents/parents-in-law between 1985 and 1995 in Great Britain. During this period, there was a decline in co-resident inter-generational care, in particular highly intensive care. The article explored possible factors underlying these trends.
Source: Linda Pickard, 'The decline of intensive intergenerational care of older people in Great Britain, 1985 1995', Population Trends 110, Winter 2002, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
The government announced an increase in the funding for nursing care in care homes, effective from 1 April 2003. The three bands of funding (depending on level of need) will be raised from 35 to 40, 70 to 75 and 110 to 120. (When the new scheme was introduced in October 2001 the government made a commitment to reassess the bands of nursing care.)
Source: Press release 23.12.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The government began consultation on a benchmarking tool designed to help those responsible for commissioning or delivering local healthcare services to compare patterns of treatment at different ages with those in other areas. The tool initially focuses on a number of acute hospital procedures. Proposed further development includes the provision of an expanded tool to investigate potential age discrimination in primary care and social care.
Source: Age Discrimination Benchmarking User Guide, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Link to benchmarking tool (Excel file)
Date: 2002-Dec
A report said that older people s services are continuing to improve; that there has been an 'encouraging response' to the National Service Framework for Older People; and that councils are working hard to modernise their policies and procedures.
Source: Margaret Little, Improving Older People s Services - Policy into Practice: The second phase of inspections into older people s services, Social Services Inspectorate/Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
Agencies that deliver services for older people must work together and put them at the heart of planning if their needs are to be properly met, an audit report said.
Source: Integrated Services for Older People - Building a Whole System Approach, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
Local authorities condemned the government's proposals for tackling 'bed-blocking' as 'costly, unworkable and based on a flawed analysis of the real problems'.
Source: Local Government Association Response to Department of Health Proposals to Introduce a System of Reimbursement around Discharge from Hospital, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: LGA Response (pdf) | LGA press release | DH Consultation Document (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
The Scottish Executive published a report on the development of a 'resource use measure' in Scotland, aimed at ensuring fair and equitable access to resources for older people.
Source: Press release 25.9.02, Scottish Executive (0131 244 1111)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
Official figures showed that 8.3 per cent of elderly patients in England were reported as having their hospital discharge delayed in the period April to June 2002, compared to 11.1 per cent in the same period of 2001. But an increase in emergency readmissions of elderly people reportedly led to concerns that the policy of reducing delays in discharge is being pursued too vigorously.
Source: NHS Quarterly Review: A Summary of NHS Performance for the Period April to June 2002, Department of Health (08701 555455) | The Guardian, 18.9.02
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Sep
A new guide provided an overview of information and existing practice for those involved in assessing the social care needs of older people with mental health problems.
Source: Best Practice Guide: Assessing the Mental Health Needs of Older People, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: SCIE press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A report said that 'assisted living' (independent, self-contained accommodation integrated with the availability of personal care and sometimes nursing care) offers older people a way to look after themselves and maintain their independence as they become frailer, as an alternative to a care home or community homecare.
Source: Philip Mickelborough, Assisted Living Markets 2002-03, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: Summary | Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A new guide provided an overview of information and existing practice for those involved in assessing the social care needs of older people with mental health problems.
Source: Best Practice Guide: Assessing the Mental Health Needs of Older People, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: SCIE press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A report on residential and nursing homes for older people discussed the possibility of higher fees for residents with more complex needs and/or for particular groups (such as those who are severely cognitively impaired); and also higher payments for higher quality of care and/or for improved outcomes.
Source: The Residential Care and Nursing Home Sector for Older People: An Analysis of Past Trends, Current and Future Demand, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Aug
A report argued that the national service framework for older people urgently needs more resources if it is to fulfil its pledge to raise health and social care standards.
Source: Reasons for Optimism, Reasons for Concern, British Geriatrics Society (020 7608 1369) and Age Concern
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 2.5
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
United Kingdom care capacity in residential settings for elderly and physically disabled client groups shrank by some 13,100 places in 2001, according to a survey.
Source: Care of Elderly People Market Survey 2002, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: Guardian report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 5.6
Date: 2002-Jul
The government announced a package of reforms in social services for older people, backed by an extra 1 billion a year by 2006. It would include faster assessment, higher local authority fees paid to care homes, and an expanded range of services.
Source: Press release 23 July 2002, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: Link removed
Date: 2002-Jul
A literature review presented information about 'pioneering' work on attuning older people's services to the values and personal priorities of individual service users.
Source: Charles Patmore, Towards Flexible, Person-Centred Home Care Services: A Guide to Some Useful Literature for Planning, Managing or Evaluating Services for Older People, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 5.5
Date: 2002-Jul
Researchers reportedly found that some people in residential and nursing homes are paying for medical care, because their homes have private arrangements with local general practitioners.
Source: Research led by Sally Jacobs of the University of Manchester, reported in The Guardian, 3.7.02
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2002-Jul
An official report outlined a strategy for improving services for older people in Wales.
Source: When I'm 64 And More: The Report from the Advisory Group on a Strategy for Older People in Wales, National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5537)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-May
A study calculated that residential and nursing care homes for older people are underfunded by more than 1 billion a year.
Sources: W. Laing, Calculating a Fair Price for Care: A Toolkit for Residential and Nursing Care Costs, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings 612 (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 5.6)
Date: 2002-May
Ten years of chronic underfunding of community care has resulted in older people facing increasing rationing of key services, a report said.
Source: Nothing Personal: Rationing Social Care for Older People, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 5.1)
Date: 2002-May
