A new book examined future research challenges for social scientists concerning population ageing, pensions, health, and social care in Europe.
Source: Lans Bovenberg, Arthur Van Soest and Asghar Zaidi (eds.), Ageing, Health and Pensions in Europe: An economic and social policy perspective, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Dec
An audit report in Northern Ireland examined arrangements for ensuring the quality of care in homes for older people. It said that the Northern Ireland Executive needed to set a clear timetable for improving the regulation of care staff; and to place more emphasis on assessing quality in terms of service user experiences and outcomes.
Source: Arrangements for Ensuring the Quality of Care in Homes for Older People, Northern Ireland Audit Office/TSO
Links: Report | NIAO press release
Date: 2010-Dec
Researchers examined the use and estimated costs of hospital and social care services for large groups of individuals at the end of their lives.
Source: Martin Bardsley, Theo Georghiou and Jennifer Dixon, Social Care and Hospital Use at the End of Life, Nuffield Trust
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Dec
An article examined whether a typology of commissioning, contracting, and care management arrangements in England – key components in the delivery of social care for elderly people – could be discerned through the analysis of a series of indicators.
Source: Helen Chester, Jane Hughes and David Challis, 'Patterns of commissioning, contracting and care management in social care services for older people in England', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Dec
A discussion paper said that the social care system would collapse if elderly and disabled people continued to be 'pushed' into nursing homes and day centres. A change of approach was needed, under which local councils – building on relationships with health professionals and community groups – provided care services for older people and those with physical and learning disabilities in their own homes and communities.
Source: Discussion Paper – The Future of Adult Social Care, Local Government Association
Links: Discussion paper | LGA press release
Date: 2010-Nov
A think-tank report said that too many older people faced extreme challenges in terms of money, health, lifestyle, communities, housing, and care. Two key threats to the well-being of the elderly, unless tackled imaginatively and radically, would inflict poverty and suffering on even more pensioners. The first was the looming crisis in social care where demand was set to rise sharply against the background of continuing public spending constraints, the absence of any clear policy remedy from government, and a projected severe fall in the number of unpaid carers. Second, a ripple effect from high and rising levels of family breakdown meant that in the future fewer old people would have adult children and spouses and partners to turn to when they needed help.
Source: The Forgotten Age: Understanding poverty and social exclusion in later life – An interim report by the Older Age Working Group, Centre for Social Justice
Links: Report | Summary | CSJ press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2010-Nov
A report examined how local authorities and their partners were addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by an ageing society – drawing on the experience gleaned from the LinkAge Plus pilots and other related initiatives. It then sought to provide information (in the form of lessons learned and examples of notable practice) designed to help inform both policy and guidance on joined-up working.
Source: Mike Robertson and Helen Wilkinson, Local Delivery of Joined-Up Services for Older People, Research Report 713, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report | Summary | DWP press release
Date: 2010-Nov
A report summarized the results of a research programme that focused on how to improve the quality of life of older people with high support needs.
Source: Imogen Blood and Sally-Marie Bamford, Equality and Diversity and Older People with High Support Needs, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined the ideological context of policy guidance used by professionals in health and social care to safeguard older people from abuse. It considered whether there was a need for a statutory response to protect vulnerable older people.
Source: Diane Galpin, 'Policy and the protection of older people from abuse', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 32 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to the allocation of central government funding for social services for older people.
Source: Robin Darton et al., 'Slicing up the pie: allocation of central government funding of care of older people', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 44 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined the quality of assessment of older people in England with complex health and social care needs. Policy initiatives to address the difficulties in assessment needed to be more prescriptive if they were to produce the intended outcomes.
Source: David Challis, Michele Abendstern, Paul Clarkson, Jane Hughes and Caroline Sutcliffe, 'Comprehensive assessment of older people with complex care needs: the multi-disciplinarity of the single assessment process in England', Ageing and Society, Volume 30 Issue 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined key findings from a multidisciplinary study of 10 remodelled extra care schemes for older people. It said that the absence of a clear national definition of 'extra care' made it difficult for older people, their relatives, and social workers to decide whether an extra care scheme was appropriate.
Source: Fay Wright et al., 'What is the "extra" in extra care housing?', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
A new book examined ageing, health, and care.
Source: Christina Victor, Ageing, Health and Care, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Jul
Researchers modelled the impact of a tightening fiscal situation on social care for older people. A reduction in public support would prompt more people to pay privately for care and/or seek more informal care. However, the substitution of public with private expenditure was limited because of the limited financial resources available to individuals with needs, who could not always afford the high costs of care. As a result, overall (state plus private) expenditure was lower when the level of public funding was reduced. There were also equity consequences – with more private funding required, richer people would do better and the poorest people would be the biggest losers.
Source: Julien Forder and Jose-Luis Fernandez, The Impact of a Tightening Fiscal Situation on Social Care for Older People, Discussion Paper 2723, Personal Social Services Research Unit
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-May
An article examined policy and research definitions of elder mistreatment in light of the findings of the United Kingdom Study of Abuse and Neglect of Older People. It was particularly important to distinguish between trust in affective relationships and 'positions of trust' (as of paid carers). Ascriptions of neglect and abuse tended to be over-inclusive, in some instances to avoid identifying institutional and service failures. 'Abuse', 'neglect', and 'expectation of trust' were ill-defined and contested concepts.
Source: Josie Dixon et al., 'Defining elder mistreatment: reflections on the United Kingdom Study of Abuse and Neglect of Older People', Ageing and Society, Volume 30 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
An article examined two studies of elder abuse, and related them both to general policy debates and to specific issues of racism and ethnicity in adult safeguarding policy.
Source: Jill Manthorpe and Alison Bowes, 'Age, ethnicity and equalities: synthesising policy and practice messages from two recent studies of elder abuse in the UK', Social Policy and Society, Volume 9 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
An audit report said that most local councils in England did not know enough about the costs of their ageing population. Poor planning might also cause them to miss the savings that could flow from preventative services and better work with other organizations.
Source: Under Pressure: Tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population, Audit Commission | Financial Implications for Local Authorities of an Ageing Population: Policy and literature review, Audit Commission
Links: Report | Summary | Literature review | Audit Commission press release | CQC press release | ECCA press release | CBI press release | Telegraph report | Community Care report | BBC report | Inside Housing report | Local Government Chronicle report
Date: 2010-Feb
An article reported a study that compared the effect of atheism and religious faith on coping with the negative stresses and losses commonly associated with ageing and old age. All the study participants – regardless of their beliefs – were coping well, and suggested that a strong atheistic belief system could fulfil the same role as a strong religious belief system in providing support, explanation, consolation, and inspiration.
Source: Peter Wilkinson and Peter Coleman, 'Strong beliefs and coping in old age: a case-based comparison of atheism and religious faith', Ageing and Society, Volume 30 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
A report called for more support to help elderly people remain in their homes. More investment should be focused on preventing hospital admissions and reducing the number of elderly people who had to be cared for in nursing homes.
Source: In Your Lifetime: A vision of housing, care and support for an ageing society, National Housing Federation
Links: Report | NHF press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2010-Jan
An evaluation of the 'Partnerships for Older People Projects' found that substantial savings and better health outcomes for older people could be achieved by investment in preventative services.
Source: Karen Windle et al., National Evaluation of Partnerships for Older People Projects: Final Report, Department of Health
Links: Report | Summary | Appendices | Guidance | BGS press release | Community Care report | Pulse report
Date: 2010-Jan
