An inspectorate report called for a national strategy for assessing and responding to the needs of older prisoners.
Source: No Problems - Old and Quiet: Older prisoners in England and Wales, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales (020 7035 2103)
Links: Age Concern press release | Community Care report | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2004-Dec
The opposition Conservative party announced policy plans for long-term care for older people. People who self-financed the first three years of their long-term care would be guaranteed free care thereafter, regardless of their assets. A think tank said that the policy was likely to benefit only a small minority of more affluent older people.
Source: Press release 17 December 2004, Conservative Party (020 7222 9000) | Press release 21 December 2004, King s Fund (020 7307 2400)
Links: Conservative Party press release | King's Fund press release
Date: 2004-Dec
An article said that organizational changes in the care of older people had largely not been matched by corresponding transfers of resources that might enable social services to meet their increased responsibilities. Moreover, the demands of the acute hospital sector risked marginalizing the social support valued by older people themselves. Organizational restructuring would fail to improve co-ordination between health and social services for older people unless these underlying issues were also addressed.
Source: Caroline Glendinning and Robin Means, 'Rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic of long-term care - is organizational integration the answer?', Critical Social Policy, Volume 24 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Nov
A report examined experiences of the hospital discharge system, focusing particularly on the effect of the reimbursement policy adopted by the government. It found insufficient focus on choices and opportunities for older people leaving hospital, with wide variations between one part of the country and the other. Fining councils for delayed discharges had almost halved the extra time that older people spent in hospital, but up to half of those patients were back in hospital within three months.
Source: Leaving Hospital: The price of delays, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSCI press release | CDNA press release | Age Concern press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Oct
A research review aimed to identify initiatives to tackle delayed discharge in Scotland, and set this information in the context of existing policy and evidence on the nature and extent of problem.
Source: Gill Hubbard, Guro Huby, Sally Wyke and Markus Themessl-Huber, Research Review on Tackling Delayed Discharge, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2004-Oct
A survey found wide variations in council provision of home care services for older people across the country.
Source: Press release 8 October 2004, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (020 7306 6666)
Links: CSP press release | Help the Aged press release
Date: 2004-Oct
A study updated projections on future demand and spending on long-term care for older people. Spending would need to rise by around 315 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2051, to meet demographic pressures and allow for real rises in care costs, if dependency rates, patterns of care and funding arrangements remained unchanged. This was equal to a rise from about 1.4 per cent of national wealth to around 1.8 per cent, assuming economic growth of 2.25 per cent a year.
Source: Raphael Wittenberg, Adelina Comas-Herrera, Linda Pickard and Ruth Hancock, Future Demand for Long-term Care in the UK: A summary of projections of long-term care finance for older people to 2051, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 944 | JRF press release
Date: 2004-Sep
A survey found that care capacity in residential settings for elderly and physically disabled client groups shrank by some 9,600 places in the year to April 2004, to reach 486,000 places across all sectors (private, voluntary and public) - some 89,000 places lower than the peak in 1996.
Source: Care of Elderly People Market Survey 2004, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: L&B press release | NCHA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Sep
A discussion paper argued that adult protection should be viewed from the perspective of citizenship, of contribution and obligation, and of ownership by all those engaged in the modernization of public services.
Source: Placing Elder Abuse within the Context of Citizenship, Action on Elder Abuse (020 8765 7000) and Better Government for Older People
Links: No link
Date: 2004-Sep
A report brought together findings from research that explored factors influencing perceptions and experiences of independent living in later life. It also analysed pensioners' service needs and accessing behaviour, and the relationship between independence and service use. It said that a well-managed package of support services helped pensioners maintain independence at times of potential crisis. Packages that worked particularly well incorporated both formal and informal networks of support.
Source: Jane Parry, Helen Barnes, Sandra Vegeris, Maria Hudson and Rebecca Taylor, Independent Living in Later Life, Research Report 216, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf links) | Summary (pdf) | DWP press release | PSI press release
Date: 2004-Aug
The government announced a strategy, entitled 'Link-Age', aimed at helping older people access a range of benefits from one contact point, rather than having to go to different organizations for different benefits.
Source: Link-Age: Developing networks of services for older people, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | DWP press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Aug
An audit report looked at the way in which local councils in Scotland planned, purchased and reviewed their older people s services; and at implementation of national policy by councils and their health partners. It concluded that councils and their health partners should redouble their efforts to ensure there were sufficient services to meet the future needs of Scotland s ageing population.
Source: Commissioning Community Care Services for Older People, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
The inspectorates for healthcare, social care and public services announced (in response to a report by a committee of MPs) a programme of integrated inspections to improve the quality of care services for older people.
Source: Response to the Health Select Committee Report on Elder Abuse, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120) and Healthcare Commission
Links: Report (pdf) | CSCI press release
Date: 2004-Jul
Under the Spending Review 2004, local authority social services spending would rise from 10.6 billion in 2004-05 to 12.5 billion by 2007-08 - a real terms average rise of 2.7 per cent per year. Care alarm systems would be fitted in the homes of another 160,000 older people to enable them to maintain their independence by accessing support from their own homes, bringing the total number of alarms fitted in elderly people's homes to 1.5 million by 2008. Social services directors reportedly described the rise in spending as 'disappointing'. A charity reportedly criticised new targets to improve the quality of life and independence of older people as 'disappointingly unambitious'.
Source: Stability, Security and Opportunity for All: Investing for Britain s long-term future - 2004 Spending Review/New public spending plans 2005-2008, Cm 6237, HM Treasury, TSO (0870 600 5522) | The Guardian, 12 July 2004
Links: Spending Review report (pdf links) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jul
Research examined quality of life for frail older people who had moved into care homes. Despite negative attitudes towards frail older age and to life in care homes, many sought to improve their quality of life. Being able to communicate by expressing themselves and maintaining relationships was a key factor.
Source: Susan Tester, Gill Hubbard, Murna Downs, Charlotte MacDonald and Joan Murphy, Exploring Perceptions of Quality of Life of Frail Older People During and After their Transition to Institutional Care, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
A briefing brought together the findings from several studies on the importance of families and relationships in the lives of people with a learning disability growing older and experiencing dementia.
Source: Growing Older with a Learning Disability and Dementia, Research Briefing 17, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships/University of Edinburgh (0131 651 1832)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
A new book evaluated the outcomes of care homes for older people, and identified the factors determining quality of life of older people in homes. It identified the relationship between older people's psychological well-being and the kinds of care received in homes.
Source: Caroline Mozley, David Challis, Caroline Sutcliffe, Heather Bagley and Lis Cordingley, Towards Quality Care: Outcomes for older people in care homes, Ashgate Publications (01235 827730)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Jul
A study investigated existing models of practice for supporting people with learning difficulties and dementia living in care home settings.
Source: Heather Wilkinson, Diana Kerr, Colm Cunningham and Catherine Rae, Home for Good?: Preparing to support people with a learning disability in a residential setting when they develop dementia, Pavilion Publishing (01273 623222) for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Jun
A report said that care homes for older people who needed nursing or residential care continued to be underfunded, despite above-inflation increases in fees paid by local authorities.
Source: William Laing, Calculating a Fair Price for Care: A toolkit for residential and nursing care costs (second edition), Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF press release
Date: 2004-May
A literature review was published on independent living in later life. It was found that health, financial and social services policies, and service provision developed for older people, were often determined by the perceptions of policy makers and service providers and not by older people themselves. The key to providing joined up user-orientated services to facilitate independent living in later life was a greater understanding of older people s perspectives.
Source: Independent Living in Later Life: Literature review, In-House Report 137, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf) | DWP press release
Date: 2004-Apr
A report presented a review of research literature relating to the range and quality of community care services for older people in Scotland.
Source: Charlotte MacDonald, Older People and Community Care in Scotland: A review of recent research, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Date: 2004-Apr
A poll found that people thinking about getting older, and the possibility of needing social care, expected a wide choice and more say in the home care services and types of housing offered to them.
Source: When I Get Older: What people want from social care services and inspections as they get older, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
A report said that thousands of older people were being left to cope alone when their sight failed, and were at an increased risk of accidents, poverty and social exclusion.
Source: Dan Vale, Unseen: Neglect, isolation and household poverty amongst older people with sight loss, Royal National Institute of the Blind (020 7388 1266) and British Gas
Links: Report (txt) | Summary
Date: 2004-Mar
Researchers found that many frail, older people living in care homes were not being given to preserve their sense of personal freedom and identity - despite evidence that this enabled older people who could no longer live at home to enjoy a better quality of life.
Source: Susan Tester, Gill Hubbard, Murna Downs, Charlotte MacDonald and Joan Murphy, Exploring Perceptions of Quality of Life of Frail Older People During and After their Transition to Institutional Care, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Summary (pdf) | ESRC press release
Date: 2004-Feb
A report summarised a series of five studies that explored the nature of change required from public services in relation to the independence and wellbeing of older people - both the majority who had no need of care services (but who had a wide range of other concerns), and the minority of frail older people who might need support and care. It said that a radical change of perspective was needed if public services were to meet the challenges of an ageing society, and it urged public service providers to listen far more to what older people themselves declared to be their priorities - of these, a desire to play an active role in the community and its decision-making was crucial.
Source: Older People Independence and well-being: The challenge for public services, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Audit Commission press release | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Feb
A new book looked at how older people used direct payments, and how they made them work. It considered the role of support services and local authority care managers in making direct payments a real option for older people.
Source: Heather Clark, Ann Macfarlane and Helen Gough, 'It Pays Dividends': Direct payments and older people, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary | JRF Findings 234
Date: 2004-Feb
A report said that most older people's 'champions' (mostly inside the National Health Service or local councils) were highly committed to improving services for older people: but they were not always clear about what was expected of them, or how to influence or take the lead on change. (The report was published by a United Kingdom-wide partnership of voluntary agencies concerned with older people, supported by government.)
Source: Jill Manthorpe, Championing Older People: Making a difference - Findings from 209 older people s champions, Better Government for Older People (0870 770 3292)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Feb
A report said that nearly one-third of local councils were actively working on strategies and plans for their black and minority ethnic older citizens: but just over one-third had no plans to develop such strategies, although some argued that this area was adequately addressed as part of an overall commitment to equalities.
Source: Jill Manthorpe, Older People from Black and Ethnic Minority Groups: Local government strategies, Better Government for Older People (0870 770 3292)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Feb
A report said that government guidance on fairer charging for home care was not working. Many disabled and older people had to pay from their benefits for essential services they were assessed as needing, and were left with no choice but to reduce the level of service they received.
Source: Richard Holmes and Kate McMullen, The Costs of Care: The impact of the fairer charging policy on disabled and older people and their carers in England, Coalition on Charging, c/o Disability Alliance (020 7247 8776)
Links: Report (pdf) | Disability Alliance press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan
A report called on local councils and independent providers of care services for older people to create 'more transparent and collaborative' partnerships at local level. It provided good examples of where local partners had worked together to improve their commissioning of care.
Source: Implementing 'Building Capacity and Partnership in Care': From principles to practice, Association of Directors of Social Services (020 8741 8147)
Links: Report (pdf) | ADSS press release
Date: 2004-Jan
