The Consumers Association, in conjunction with 28 specialist charities, submitted an informal 'super-complaint' to the Office of Fair Trading urging further official investigation of the care homes sector. It said that the care home market was 'dysfunctional', and that an urgent investigation was needed to tackle key areas of concern in a sector serving frail and vulnerable consumers.
Source: Press release 5 December 2003, Consumers' Association (020 7770 7000)
Links: Consumers' Association press release | Briefing (pdf) | Age Concern press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Dec
An inspectorate report assessed the progress made by local councils in providing good quality social services for older people. It detailed a number of improvements, including improved integrated strategic planning between health and social care services and the beginnings of a 'fundamental cultural shift' in social care to one focused on promoting independence and offering people choice and empowerment. However, the report also showed that services often fell short of the quality expected by users and carers, and said improvements were particularly needed in services for older people with mental health difficulties, culturally sensitive services, and promoting choice through direct payments.
Source: Improving Older People s Services: Overview of performance, Social Services Inspectorate/Department of Health (020 7210 2000)
Links: Report (pdf) | DH press release | Community Care report
Date: 2003-Nov
The government announced (as part of the local government settlement) an extra 100 million in funding for older people's services for 2004-05, increasing the 386 million announced previously to 486 million. Funding in 2005-06 would increase further to 542 million.
Source: Press release 19 November 2003, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A report described residents and relatives experiences and views of the closure of older people's homes. It focused on their recommendations for how the process might be improved, in areas including length of notice, choice of new home, and the information and help received from social services, and home owners and staff.
Source: Jacquetta Williams, Ann Netten and Patricia Ware, The Closure of Care Homes for Older People: Relatives' and residents' experiences and views of the closure process, Discussion Paper 2012/3, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Community Care report
Date: 2003-Nov
A report said that nearly two thirds of responding councils in England said that they had guidelines for managing the closure of independent care homes: but a review of the content of guidelines found considerable variation between councils.
Source: Jacquetta Williams and Ann Netten, Guidelines for the Closure of Care Homes for Older People: Prevalence and content of local government protocols, Discussion Paper 1861/2, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Community Care report
Date: 2003-Nov
A law firm report said that the inspection process for care homes (introduced in April 2002) was 'failing fundamentally', and that a modified system was needed. Following an inspection, 58 per cent of the 400 care home providers surveyed waited at least two months for a draft report to be delivered, and 38 per cent waited in excess of two months: this included homes where inspectors had discovered serious matters needing urgent attention. The care homes inspectorate said that this conflicted with its own survey findings, and that serious problems of abuse or poor care in care homes and other care services would be tackled with immediate action.
Source: DLA Healthcare Survey: Report 2003, DLA (08700 111111) | Press release 20 October 2003, National Care Standards Commission (0191 233 3600)
Links: Report (pdf) | DLA press release | NCSC press release
Date: 2003-Oct
A paper examined family care provision for the growing older ethnic population. It discussed changing demographics, new government policy on promoting independent living, and implications for family care provision.
Source: Sarah Harper and Sonya Levin, Changing Families as Societies Age: Care, independence and ethnicity, Working Paper WP503, Oxford Institute of Ageing/University of Oxford (01865 286190)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
An article reported on a survey of attitudes towards financing care in old age from a representative sample of men and women in England aged 25 years and over. Most people felt the state should finance care for older people. The article discussed the extent to which this was consistent with the government's position and the competing notions of equity that recent debate entailed.
Source: Chris Deeming and Justin Keen, 'A fair deal for care in older age? Public attitudes towards the funding of long-term care', Policy and Politics, Volume 31 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2003-Oct
A discussion paper detailed the progress made in building better services for older people. It said the focus should be shifted from acute care and the most frail elderly to promoting the wellbeing of all older people. There was a need to develop a community-based framework for commissioning services, involving social services, health, housing, leisure, education and the independent and voluntary sectors.
Source: All Our Tomorrows: Inverting the triangle of care, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000) and Association of Directors of Social Services
Links: Report (pdf) | LGA press release | Guardian report | Community Care article
Date: 2003-Oct
A paper discussed current understanding of family care and support for older people within ethnic minority families.
Source: Sarah Harper and Sonya Levin, Changing Families as Societies Age: Care, independence and ethnicity, Working Paper WP503, Oxford Institute of Ageing/University of Oxford (01865 286190)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
Researchers sought to determine 'what works' and what could work better regarding the rehabilitation, or intermediate care, services received by older people. They identified a need for a 'whole person' approach to rehabilitation, an explicit partnership approach to the assessment of user and carer needs, and much greater clarity about the specific rehabilitative activities which were offered by individual units and hospitals.
Source: Tessa Trappes-Lomax, Annie Ellis and Rohini Terry, The User Voice I, II & III: Three qualitative studies of the views of older people concerning rehabilitation services they received in hospital, in social services/NHS residential rehabilitation units, and at home, Centre for Evidence Based Social Services/University of Exeter (01392 262865)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
A committee of MPs said that levels of delayed discharge had been reduced significantly since 1997: but some acute hospitals were still not implementing best practice for discharging patients, and there were still too many older people waiting longer in hospital than necessary. They said that involving patients and their relatives and carers in discharge decisions was crucial for timely and appropriate discharge; and that a long-term solution to delayed discharges would only be achieved through private and public sector partners working together.
Source: Ensuring the Effective Discharge of Older Patients from NHS Acute Hospitals, Thirty-third Report (Session 2002-03), HC 459, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Age Concern press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Sep
The government was accused by members of the Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the Elderly of betraying millions of older people by refusing to accept its recommendation (made in a 1999 report) of free personal care for those who were no longer fit to look after themselves. Nine members of the Commission reassembled to condemn the government's failure to act: they said that it was 'ethically impossible' to justify the distinction between 'personal care' and 'healthcare' needs.
Source: The Guardian, 29 September 2003
Links: Guardian report | Commission report
Date: 2003-Sep
A report explored the concepts of 'successful ageing' and 'living well in later years'. It argued for a stronger emphasis on promoting the quality of life for older people and their engagement with their communities, rather than merely preventing the need for services.
Source: Gerald Wistow, Eileen Waddington and Mary Godfrey, Living Well in Later Life: From prevention to promotion, Nuffield Institute for Health/University of Leeds (0113 343 6352)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
Researchers evaluated a 'continuing care retirement community' in York, intended to support an active and independent retirement by offering high-quality accommodation and communal facilities, alongside extensive care and support services. (Services are provided using a 'unique' financial model, under which residents' fees are pooled to create a shared resource to fund care and support.) In 2002, 83 per cent of residents were 'very satisfied' or 'quite satisfied' with the project.
Source: Karen Croucher, Nicholas Pleace and Mark Bevan, Living at Hartrigg Oaks: Residents views of the UK s first continuing care retirement community, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 913 | JRF press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A report evaluated intermediate care services for elderly people. It said that effectiveness and efficiency could be improved by greater clarity about which patients would most benefit from specific services.
Source: Iain Carpenter, Kathy Kotiadis and Mathew Mackenzie, An Evaluation of Intermediate Care Services for Older People, Centre for Health Services Studies/University of Kent (01227 827760)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
A report said that elderly prisoners were being neglected, because the prison service was failing to meet their specialist health, social and rehabilitation needs.
Source: Ken Howse, Growing Old in Prison: Scoping study on older prisoners, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: PRT press release
Date: 2003-Aug
The House of Lords gave a second reading to a private member's Bill to allow people suffering from a terminal disease or incurable illness to choose to die. The Bill was attacked by campaigners for the elderly.
Source: Lord Joffe, Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill [HL], TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Lords Hansard, Debate 6.6.03, columns 1585-1690, TSO | Press release 6.6.03, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Help the Aged press release | Disability Rights Commission briefing | Catholic Church press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2003-Jun
A new book assessed the development of telecare and 'smart home' services in the United Kingdom and internationally, and considered the potential of such technologies for older people with high levels of support need.
Source: Malcolm Fisk, Social Alarms to Telecare: Older people's services in transition, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Jun
The Scottish Executive published (for consultation) a working group report on ways to improve the equipment and adaptations provided in Scotland for disabled and older people.
Source: Equipped for Inclusion: Report of the Strategy Forum - Equipment and adaptations, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A survey found that only 74,206 people were listed on the water companies registers of disabled or elderly customers at the end of 2002 (England and Wales), compared with 560,000 in the electricity sector and 696,500 in gas for the same period.
Source: Review of the Application of Ofwat Guidelines on Services for Elderly or Disabled Customers, WaterVoice (0121 625 1373)
Links: Report (pdf) | WaterVoice press release (Word file) | Ofwat press release
Date: 2003-Jun
An article considered the contribution of changes in mortality and fertility to the likelihood of having one or more surviving children at a given age and/or a surviving parent. The proportion of people aged 60 with a mother alive was projected to more than double between those born in 1911 and 1970, and to increase for at least the next 30 years. While there were increasing concerns about the availability of informal care for elderly people from children, the authors concluded that a higher proportion of elderly people were likely to have a surviving child than for any generation ever born in Britain.
Source: Michael Murphy and Emily Grundy, 'Mothers with living children and children with living mothers: the role of fertility and mortality in the period 1911 2050', Population Trends 112, Summer 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | LSTHM press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill received Royal assent. The new Act was aimed at creating a 'strong financial incentive' for local authorities to assess individuals who were in hospital, and make provision for any community care services they may need, as quickly as possible.
Source: Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act
Date: 2003-Apr
The House of Lords voted to delay implementation of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill for a year - a move welcomed by local authorities. The government reportedly said it would propose a delay of six months to allow for a further 'preparation period', before implementation from 1 October 2003.
Source: House of Lords Hansard, Debate 17.2.03, columns 985-1010, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 18.2.03, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000) | Community Care, 18.2.03
Links: HOL Hansard | LGA press release | Community Care article
Date: 2003-Feb
The first special report of the new National Health Service ombudsman contained the results of four investigations into complaints about the way in which health authorities set and apply their eligibility criteria for NHS funding for the continuing care of older and disabled people. It said that the Department of Health's guidance and support to date has not provided the secure foundation needed to enable a fair and transparent system of eligibility for funding for long-term care to be operated across the country. But the government reportedly dismissed claims that many more people would be eligible for free long-term care as a result of the report.
Source: NHS Funding for Long Term Care of Older and Disabled People, Second Report (Session 2002-03), HC 399, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Ombudsman press release | Age Concern press release | Community Care article
Date: 2003-Feb
The government announced that, following consultation, care homes which existed before 1 April 2002 would no longer be required to make changes to meet some of the physical environmental standards which came into force on that date. Higher standards would still apply to new care homes. Campaigners expressed 'extreme disappointment' at the moves.
Source: Care Homes for Older People: National Minimum Standards, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Care Homes for Adults (18-65) and Supplementary Standards for Care Homes Accommodating Young People Aged 16 and 17: National Minimum Standards, Department of Health, TSO | The Care Homes Regulations 2001 (updated), Department of Health, TSO | Press release 18.2.03, Department of Health (020 7210 4850) | Press release 18.2.03, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200)
Links: Standards (Homes for Older People) (pdf) | Updated regulations (pdf) | DH press release | Age Concern press release | NCSC press release
Date: 2003-Feb
The government began consultation on draft regulations relating to the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill, which seeks to introduce a system of reimbursement around discharge from hospital and to remove local authorities' powers to charge for intermediate care and certain community equipment services. Doctors called the plans 'untimely'.
Source: The Delayed Discharges (England) Regulations 2003, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Press release 17.2.03, British Medical Association (020 7387 4499)
Links: Text of Bill | BMA press release
Date: 2003-Feb
A report identified wide gaps in services for visually impaired older people. It said that visual impairment is one of the most prevalent and disabling conditions in later life, and that social isolation and lack of human contact are serious concerns.
Source: John Percival, Julienne Hanson, Malcolm Johnson and Reem Zako, The Housing and Support Needs of Older People with Visual Impairment, Thomas Pocklington Trust (020 8995 0880)
Links: Community Care article
Date: 2003-Jan
A report offered a critique of the government's reimbursement proposals in respect of delayed discharge of patients from hospital. It set out an alternative approach, that recognises the complex issues underlying delayed discharges. It said that the best way to reduce delays is through partnership, within a framework that recognises the integration of the whole health and social care system.
Source: A Whole in One: The whole systems approach to delayed discharges, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jan
From 31 January 2003, all state-regulated private welfare agencies were able to exempt their welfare services, including home care, from value-added tax. This meant that around 60,000 sick, elderly and disabled people will no longer have to pay VAT on their home care costs.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Oral Answers 27.2.03, column 399, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2003-Jan
A report examined the condition of care home services for the elderly provided by the Catholic Church.
Source: Terry Philpot, On the Homes Front, Caritas-Social Action (020 7901 4875)
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jan
The Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill had its third reading. The Bill is aimed at creating a 'strong financial incentive' for local authorities to assess individuals who are in hospital, and make provision for any community care services they may need, as quickly as possible.
Source: Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill (2002), Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 15.1.03, columns 717-790, TSO
Links: Hansard | Text of Bill
Date: 2003-Jan
