A report called on the government to improve care for all older people through wholesale reform of the social care system. The key reforms needed were: a clear national framework – a national minimum entitlement that limited the existing 'postcode lottery' of care; a new strategic role for local authorities; and a care navigation service available to everyone – a 'first stop shop' to end confusion and uncertainty when care was needed.
Source: Navigating the Way: The future care and well-being of older people, Resolution Foundation (020 7489 4870)
Links: Report | Resolution press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined findings from a national evaluation of intermediate care, focusing on the relationship between hospital services and intermediate care. It raised questions about the extent to which intermediate care would be able to rebalance the existing health and social care system, and make a substantial contribution to tackling concerns about emergency hospital admissions and delayed transfers of care.
Source: Jon Glasby, Graham Martin and Emma Regen, 'Older people and the relationship between hospital services and intermediate care: results from a national evaluation', Journal of Interprofessional Care, Volume 22 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined the views of practitioners and managers on the implementation of intermediate care for elderly people across England. Intermediate care did not appear to be achieving its full potential for alleviating pressure within health and social care systems. The strengthening of capacity and workforce, improvements to whole-systems working, and the promotion of intermediate care among doctors and other referrers were identified as key future priorities.
Source: Emma Regen et al., 'Challenges, benefits and weaknesses of intermediate care: results from five UK case study sites', Health and Social Care in the Community, Volume 16 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that it should be compulsory for health and care providers to be monitored, assessed, and held to account over the level of care and respect given to older patients. It called for the 'Standards for Better Health Framework' to be extended to include nine measures of dignity, identified by older people as essential to delivering decent quality healthcare.
Source: On Our Own Terms: The challenge of assessing dignity in care, Help the Aged (020 7278 1114)
Links: Help the Aged press release
Date: 2008-Nov
A report evaluated pilots aimed at creating a sustainable shift in resources and culture away from institutional and hospital-based crisis care for older people towards earlier, targeted interventions within their own homes and communities. Following the project, users reported they saw their quality of life as improved. The projects were cost-effective, and also appeared to be associated with a wider culture change within their localities. Generally, there seemed to be a greater recognition of the importance of including early intervention and preventative services focused toward well-being.
Source: Karen Windle et al., National Evaluation of Partnerships for Older People Projects: Interim Report of Progress, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | DH press release | Age Concern press release
Date: 2008-Oct
A report evaluated a pilot which involved joining the process of applying for attendance allowance with assessment for social care support. 'Streamlined assessment' was based on the principle that customers should provide information only once to access more than one service, and that there was scope to adopt a 'customer'-centred approach to service provision.
Source: John Hilton, Streamlining the Assessment of Attendance Allowance Applications with Social Care Assessment: An evaluation of two London pilots, Research Report 534, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2008-Oct
A report said that long-term care for older people was in need of urgent reform. It recommended sweeping changes to the existing system, giving patients access to personal budgets and far greater control over their own care.
Source: Jon Glasby, Who Cares? Policy proposals for the reform of long-term care, Health Services Management Centre/University of Birmingham (0121 414 7050)
Links: Report | Birmingham University press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Sep
A report examined the effects of unpaid care provision on the lives of older people. Older carers providing 'heavy' care showed a markedly lower quality of life compared to equivalent non-carers. More than any other characteristic, including general health and experience of pain, it was the memory functioning of individuals receiving care that had the biggest influence on the quality of life of older carers. A linked discussion paper explored ideas for improving support for older carers.
Source: Andy Ross, James Lloyd, Michael Weinhardt and Hayley Cheshire, Living and Caring? An Investigation of the experiences of older carers, International Longevity Centre – UK (020 7735 7565) | James Lloyd, Living and Caring for All, International Longevity Centre – UK
Links: Report | Discussion paper
Date: 2008-Sep
A report (by an official advisory body) examined the implications of an ageing rural population, in particular its likely impact on the future of adult social care.
Source: The Personalisation of Adult Social Care in Rural Areas, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report | CRC press release | RSN press release
Date: 2008-Aug
An audit report said that local councils in England, particularly those which had the most rapidly ageing populations, were not ready to meet the challenges or grasp opportunities as people got older. Older people (defined as those aged over 50) would make up more than 1 in 3 of the population by 2009: but most council services focused on the minority who required social care, excluding the invisible majority who might end up isolated and vulnerable if ignored.
Source: Don't Stop Me Now: Preparing for an ageing population, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report | Audit Commission press release | Age Concern press release | Help the Aged press release | LGA press release | ADASS press release | CSV press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jul
A think-tank report said that urgent action was needed to curb a decline in mental health and well-being among people over 65. 2.4 million older people were estimated to have depression which impaired their quality of life.
Source: Jessica Allen, Older People and Wellbeing, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Report | IPPR press release | Help the Aged press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Jul
A report by an all-party group of MPs said that health and social care agencies needed to work much more closely together if services for older people were to improve dramatically – with local authorities eventually taking the lead in joint commissioning. A much more rational approach was needed to preventing ill-health in older people and supporting their independence – which meant giving priority to a 'holistic' range of services that kept people active and involved in their communities, rather than having to have acute treatment or residential care.
Source: Janet Sillett, Never Too Late For Living: Inquiry into services for older people, All Party Parliamentary Local Government Group c/o Clive Betts MP (020 7219 3588)
Links: Report | LGIU press release
Date: 2008-Jul
A report examined the experiences of people who had to meet the costs of care themselves (self-funders) when they sought help from their local authority. Self-funders were often shocked by the complexity of care needs assessment and entitlements that faced them.
Source: Gillian Dalley with Michael Mandelstam, Assessment Denied? Council responsibilities towards self-funders moving into care, Relatives and Residents Association (020 7359 8148)
Links: RRA press release
Date: 2008-Jul
Two linked research studies and a literature review (commissioned by the Department of Health) examined the costs and benefits of eliminating age discrimination in the provision of health and social care.
Source: Julien Forder, The Costs of Addressing Age Discrimination in Social Care, Discussion Paper 2538, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963) | Jennifer Beecham et al., Age Discrimination in Mental Health Services, Discussion Paper 2536, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent | Richard Edlin et al., Cost-effectiveness Analysis and Ageism: A review of the theoretical literature, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences/University of Leeds (0113 343 8005) Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Literature review
Date: 2008-Jun
Researchers examined experiences of the LinkAge Plus initiative, designed to improve access to, and information about, services for older people. The approach was most effective when it was tapping into an existing, often already successful, infrastructure and/or network of relationships.
Source: Katrina Ritters and Howard Davis, Access to Information and Services for Older People: The Joined-up Approach, Working Paper 53, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Working paper
Date: 2008-Jun
A survey found that rising charges for people to receive care in their own homes were causing disabled and older people in England to reduce or even stop their support services. 80 per cent of people surveyed who no longer used care services said that charges contributed to their decision to stop their support. 29 per cent of respondents did not feel their essential expenditure (related to impairment/health condition) was taken into account in financial assessments to pay charges – meaning that they had to choose between essential support and food, heating, or utility bills.
Source: Charging into Poverty? Charges for care services at home and the national debate on adult care reform in England, Coalition on Charging c/o National Centre for Independent Living (020 7587 1663)
Links: Report | Coalition press release | Alzheimers Society press release | Carers UK press release | LGA press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
The government began consultation on a national strategy for dementia services. The strategy would have three main aims: to increase awareness of dementia and remove the stigma associated with it; to ensure early diagnosis and intervention; and to improve the quality of care that people with dementia received. There would be an immediate review into the prescribing and use of anti-psychotic drugs to treat sufferers of dementia.
Source: Transforming the Quality of Dementia Care: Consultation on a national dementia strategy, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation document | DH press release | UKHCA press release | RNHA press release | RCPsych press release | NCF press release | MHF press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jun
The social care inspectorate said that 1 in 5 care homes for people with dementia was failing to treat its residents with dignity and respect.
Source: See Me, Not Just the Dementia: Understanding people's experiences of living in a care home, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | Summary | CSCI press release | Alzheimers Society press release | Kings Fund press release | MHF press release | NCF press release | RNHA press release | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jun
A think-tank report said that 'serious weaknesses' in the system of long-term care for older people meant that wholesale reform was needed. The system was undermined by a massive reliance on informal care, which was vulnerable to future changes – such as older people having more complex needs, and fewer younger people due to a declining birth rate. There was also a severe shortage of adequate information, advice, and advocacy. A linked study examined long-term care markets in England, providing an appraisal of the markets' functionality and assessing the efficiency and fairness of key areas of supply and demand.
Source: A to Z: Mapping long-term care markets, Resolution Foundation (020 7489 4870) | Deloitte, Mapping Care of Older People: Analysis of England's long-term care markets, Resolution Foundation
Links: Report | Deloitte study | Resolution press release | Deloitte press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Apr
A report by an all-party group of MPs called on the government to stop the dangerous over-prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to people with dementia. Up to 105,000 people with dementia were given the drugs inappropriately.
Source: Always a Last Resort: Inquiry into the prescription of antipsychotic drugs to people with dementia living in care homes, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia, c/o Alzheimer's Society (020 7306 0606)
Links: Report | Alzheimers Society press release | RNHA press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Community Care report | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Apr
An article examined the consequences of partnership dissolution for late-life support. Patterns of support varied: but overall partnership dissolution did not show the expected detrimental relationship with later-life support. Health needs and increasing age were strongly associated with increases in contact and informal and formal help, regardless of family history.
Source: Karen Glaser, Rachel Stuchbury, Cecilia Tomassini and Janet Askham, 'The long-term consequences of partnership dissolution for support in later life in the United Kingdom', Ageing and Society, Volume 28 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Apr
A think-tank report set out an approach to the future funding of long-term care for older people, based around the model of a social insurance fund. A proposed 'National Care Fund' would have several key features including: payment of a one-off contribution fee at a level determined by means assessment, with resulting entitlement to a standard package of care paid for by the fund; automatic enrolment to ensure high levels of participation; complete flexibility for older people as to when and how they would pay their contribution, including the option to defer until after death in the form of a charge levied on their estate; state support for those unable to pay.
Source: James Lloyd, A National Care Fund for Long-term Care, International Longevity Centre – UK (020 7735 7565)
Date: 2008-Mar
The government announced new measures to strengthen the protection of vulnerable older people in the care system. It said that it would seek to amend the Health and Social Care Bill to make private care homes providing publicly arranged accommodation directly subject to duties under the Human Rights Act – reversing the effect of a recent court decision.
Source: Press release 27 March 2008, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release | LGA press release | EHRC press release | Help the Aged press release | Alzheimers Society press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Mar
An article examined social rehabilitation projects for elderly people leaving hospital. The study confirmed the health benefits of social care facilitating access to social networks.
Source: Eileen McLeod, Paul Bywaters, Denise Tanner and Maureen Hirsch, 'For the sake of their health: older service users' requirements for social care to facilitate access to social networks following hospital discharge', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 38 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Feb
A think-tank report examined areas where policy change and intervention were required in the system of care for older people. It considered the trade-offs to be made between quality and coverage; the case for more targeted support; the concept of co-payment; and the role of the private market for care insurance.
Source: Neil Churchill (ed.), Advancing Opportunity: Older People and Social Care, Smith Institute (020 7592 3618)
Links: Report | ISER press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Feb
A report examined ways in which neighbourhood services could be developed for older people.
Source: Stephen Burke, Caroline Bernard and Marie Morris, Delivering a Sure Start to Later Life: Exploring new models of neighbourhood services for older people, Counsel and Care (020 7241 8555)
Links: Report | Counsel and Care press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Feb
An audit report said that free personal and nursing care in Scotland needed to be better planned, managed, and funded for it to continue to benefit older people in the future.
Source: A Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Feb
A report said that 'low earners' were squeezed by the elderly care system, faring worse than people on both higher and lower incomes – they were too 'rich' to qualify automatically for free state care and too 'poor' to cope with care costs.
Source: Lost: Low earners and the elderly care market, Resolution Foundation (020 7489 4870)
Links:Report | Resolution press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Feb
A report said that there was a need for a new system to pay for long-term care for older people, which combined a clear-cut entitlement to care and support with a sharing of costs between individuals and the state. The existing system of funding long-term care was 'not fit for purpose'. Better support for unpaid carers was also crucial.
Source: The Future of Care Funding: Time for a change, Caring Choices c/o King's Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Report | King's Fund press release | Carers UK press release | Alzheimers Society press release | Age Concern press release | Skills for Care press release | LGA press release | ECCA press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Jan
A report said that 1.9 million disabled people over the age of 65 received no state-funded care, and relied on informal and private care valued at £25,000 for each disabled person. 3 out of 4 local authorities only provided care to those whose needs were 'critical' or 'substantial'.
Source: A Charter for Change: Reforming care and support for older people, their families and carers, Counsel and Care (020 7241 8555)
Links: Report | Counsel and Care press release | ECCA press release
Date: 2008-Jan
An article examined progress in developing outcomes-focused services for older people in England, and the factors that helped and hindered this. Progress was relatively recent and somewhat fragmented. Developments in intermediate care and re-ablement services, focusing on change outcomes, were marked: but there appeared to be a disjunction between these and the capacity of home care services to address desired maintenance outcomes.
Source: Caroline Glendinning, Susan Clarke, Philippa Hare and Liz Newbronner, 'Progress and problems in developing outcomes-focused social care services for older people in England', Health and Social Care in the Community, Volume 16 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jan
