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Impact of the statutory concessionary travel scheme on bus travel among older people: a natural experiment from England
- Authors:
- WHITLEY Elise, CRAIG Peter, POPHAM Frank
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 40(11), 2020, pp.2480-2494.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
In the context of worldwide ageing, increasing numbers of older people are lonely, isolated and excluded, with serious implications for health, and cognitive and physical functioning. Access to good public transport can improve mobility and social participation among older adults, and policies that improve access and promote use, such as concessionary travel schemes, are potentially important in promoting healthy and successful ageing. Concessionary travel schemes for older people are in place in many countries but are under threat following the global financial crisis. Evidence regarding their success in encouraging activity and social participation is generally positive but based largely on qualitative or observational associations and, in particular, is often limited by the lack of appropriate comparison groups. This study uses changes in the English statutory scheme, in particular the rising eligibility age from 2010 onwards, as a natural experiment to explore its impact on older people's travel. A difference-in-difference-in-difference analysis of National Travel Surveys (2002–2016) compares three age groups differentially affected by eligibility criteria: 50–59 years (consistently ineligible), 60–64 years (decreasing eligibility from 2010) and 65–74 years (consistently eligible). Compared with 50–59-year-olds, bus travel by 60–74-year-olds increased year-on-year from 2002 to 2010 then fell following rises in eligibility age (annual change in weekly bus travel: −2.9 per cent (−4.1%, −1.7%) in 60–74- versus 50–59-year-olds). Results were consistent across gender, occupation and rurality. The results indicate that access to, specifically, free travel increases bus use and access to services among older people, potentially improving mobility, social participation and health. However, the rising eligibility age in England has led to a reduction in bus travel in older people, including those not directly affected by the change, demonstrating that the positive impact of the concession goes beyond those who are eligible. Future work should explore the cost–benefit trade-off of this and similar schemes worldwide. (Edited publisher abstract)
The future of transport in an ageing society
- Authors:
- HOLLEY-MOORE George, CREIGHTON Helen
- Publisher:
- International Longevity Centre UK
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 32
- Place of publication:
- London
Sets out the key transport challenges that are arising from the UK’s ageing population. Using analysis from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), as well as evidence from transport experts at a stakeholder’s workshop, this report argues that the current transport system is failing to meet the needs of too many older people. Despite free bus travel, one third of over 65s in England never use public transport. And over half either never use public transport or use it less than once a month. Approximately 35,000 people aged 65-84 in England have difficulty walking even a short distance, but are restricted to using public transport making any journey difficult. 1.45 million over 65s find it quite difficult or very difficult to travel to a hospital, whilst 630,000 over 65s find it difficult or very difficult to travel to their GP. Furthermore, the report shows that it is the oldest old, those who are in poor health and those living in rural areas who are let down the most by the current public transport system: Among the over 80s less than 55 per cent report finding it easy to travel to a hospital, a supermarket or a post office. Among the over 65s who report that it is ‘Very Difficult’ for them to travel to see their GP, less than 30 per cent are in good health. Just 20 per cent of those aged 70-74 living in rural areas use public transport weekly, compared to 38 per cent of those who live in an urban setting. The report argues that with the start of the new Parliament it is time to embrace the opportunities for improvement. In particular, devolution of central Government powers to local communities could mean more flexible transport services which better reflect the needs of older people, while advances in technology, including driverless cars, could further expand older people’s transport options. (Edited publisher abstract)
Improving access to adult vaccination: a tool for healthy ageing
- Authors:
- SCRUTTON Jonathan, SINCLAIR David, WALKER Trinley
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 18(2), 2014, pp.58-66.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how access to vaccination for older people in the UK can be both improved and used as a tool for healthy ageing. Design/methodology/approach: ILC-UK released a report “Adult Immunisation in the UK”, which applied a UK perspective to a 2013 Supporting Active Ageing Through Immunisation (SAATI) report on immunisation. The ILC report combined the SAATI findings with a traditional literature review, a policy review incorporating grey literature and the outcomes of a focus group discussion. This paper highlights the key findings of the ILC-UK report. Findings: Vaccination needs to be included as part of proactive strategies to promote healthy and active ageing. Initiatives need to be explored that increase the rate of delivery of vaccinations. Barriers to the vaccination of health and social care professionals working with older people need to be removed. The government should explore using psychological insights into human behaviour to improve the take-up of vaccinations amongst adults. The range of settings where older people can receive vaccination needs to be expanded. Information on the potential benefits of immunisation should be made readily available and easily accessible to older people. Practical implications: The paper calls for a structural shift in how vaccination services in the UK are organised. Social implications: The paper calls for a cultural shift in how society views immunisation and the role it has to play in the healthy ageing process. Originality/value: The paper uses new European research on immunisation and applies it to the UK's situation. (Publisher abstract)
Don't stop me now: preparing for an ageing population
- Author:
- AUDIT COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Audit Commission
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 74p.
- Place of publication:
- London
On 17 July 2008, the Audit Commission published a report (Don't stop me now: preparing for an ageing population) which looks at the challenges and opportunities facing England as its population gets older. The report emphasises that councils have a local area leadership role to ensure that older people can live independently and actively, with a good quality of life, for as long as possible. It suggests that most councils should do more to create an environment in which people thrive as they age. The report claims that only a third of councils are well prepared for an ageing population, though a further third are making progress. It stresses that they need to engage with older people in commissioning, designing and delivering mainstream and targeted services to tackle social isolation and support independent living.
Interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone: a mixed-methods systematic review of effectiveness and accessibility
- Authors:
- JOHNSTONE Georgina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 41(7), 2021, pp.1587-1636.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The global population is ageing and the likelihood of living alone increases with age. Services are necessary to help older people living alone to optimise health and wellbeing. This systematic review aimed to summarise the effectiveness and accessibility of interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living alone. Relevant electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus) were searched for all years up to August 2018. Studies were included if they involved older people (aged ⩾55 years) living alone, and an intervention with measured health and wellbeing outcomes. All study types were included. The Theory of Access was used to assess interventions across dimensions of accessibility, availability, acceptability, affordability, adequacy and awareness. Twenty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria; 17 studies focused on ageing safely in place and 11 on psychological and social wellbeing. Studies comprised quantitative (N = 19), qualitative (N = 4) and mixed-methods (N = 5) approaches. Dimensions from the Theory of Access were poorly addressed in the studies, particularly those of higher-quality methodology. Studies were heterogeneous, preliminary in scope and lacked consistent study design, methodology or measurement. Services that do not address user accessibility in design or evaluation may be limited in their uptake and impact. It is recommended that dimensions of access and co-creation principles be integrated into service design processes and be evaluated alongside clinical effectiveness. (Edited publisher abstract)
Top tips for commissioners: supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care
- Author:
- CARERS TRUST
- Publisher:
- Carers Trust
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 7
- Place of publication:
- London
This resource is one of a suite of resources developed alongside a report, No Longer Able to Care: Supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. It gives suggestions on what commissioners can do to make sure support is available in their area. It includes free resources they can use to ensure that they are supporting carers and fulfilling they role duties under the 2014 Care Act. Top tips include: early identification and support of carers are vital; once a carer is identified, the support plan that is developed for the carer should set out trigger points where a carer will receive support when they are less able or unable to care; support for carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care is an important area for developments for future services to consider; subsequent assessments and reassessments should revisit these plans; planning must take into account the carer’s individual needs and circumstances; services must be designed in a way that makes them open to everyone in your community; some communities who face additional barriers may prefer support from specialist organisations; involve carers in the design of the services that support them. (Edited publisher abstract)
Top tips for front line staff: supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care
- Author:
- CARERS TRUST
- Publisher:
- Carers Trust
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- London
This resource is one of a suite of resources developed alongside a report, No Longer Able to Care: Supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. Most unpaid carers will need support at some point in their caring journey. There will come a point in most carers’ lives where they will be less able or unable to care. Carers must be supported at this stage to make sure the best possible outcomes are achieved for them and the people they care for. This resource will help front line staff support carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. It gives suggestions on what staff can do to make sure they are supporting carers to make this change. Top tips include: early identification and support of carers are vital; once a carer is identified, the support plan that is developed for the carer should set out trigger points where a carer will receive support when they are less able or unable to care; subsequent assessments should revisit these; planning must take into account the carer’s individual needs and circumstances and reflect the views and needs of the person with care needs; when other family members take caring responsibilities, they must be identified and supported with their own needs; some communities who face additional barriers may prefer support from specialist organisations; carers want to be involved in the design of support services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Providers supporting carers: supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care
- Author:
- CARERS TRUST
- Publisher:
- Carers Trust
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 7
- Place of publication:
- London
This resource is one of a suite of resources developed alongside a report, No Longer Able to Care: Supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. Most unpaid carers will need support at some point in their caring journey. There will come a point in most carers’ lives where they will be less able or unable to care. Carers must be supported at this stage to make sure the best possible outcomes are achieved for them and the people they care for. This resource will help providers support carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. It gives suggestions on what they can do as providers to make sure you can provide this support. Top tips include: early identification and support of carers are vital; once a carer is identified, the support plan that is developed for the carer should set out trigger points where a carer will receive support when they are less able or unable to care; subsequent assessments should revisit these; planning must take into account the carer’s individual needs and circumstances and reflect the views and needs of the person with care needs; when other family members take caring responsibilities, they must be identified and supported with their own needs; work with service users to develop and design services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Top tips for carers: thinking about the future
- Author:
- CARERS TRUST
- Publisher:
- Carers Trust
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 3
- Place of publication:
- London
This resource is one of a suite of resources developed alongside a report, No Longer Able to Care: Supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. Most unpaid carers will need support at some point in their caring journey. There will come a point in most carers’ lives where they will be less able or unable to care. Carers must be supported at this stage to make sure the best possible outcomes are achieved for them and the people they care for. This document contains key advice to help carers think about the future and a time when they might be less able or unable to care. It sets out some questions carers may want to ask themselves and actions they may need to undertake to plan for the future. (Edited publisher abstract)
No longer able to care: supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care
- Author:
- CARERS TRUST
- Publisher:
- Carers Trust
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- London
This report highlights how older parent carers and ageing carers who face additional barriers to accessing services should be supported to prepare for a time when they are less able or unable to provide care. The report uses existing evidence, evidence gathered from surveys of carers and service providers, focus groups with carers, and interviews with experts, to make the case for improvement for support for carers preparing for changing circumstances when they are, or will be, less able, or unable, to care. Key points raised in this report include: carers need support to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care; carers need to be identified early and support put in place to enable them to plan for the future; carers who are from communities who face additional barriers to accessing services need services that are open and actively welcoming to them as well as the option of accessing specialist support if they need it. The report calls on national government, local authorities, the voluntary sector and service providers to work together to ensure services are there to support carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. The report is accompanied by resources for carers, commissioners, providers and front line staff to use in the development of support for carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. (Edited publisher abstract)