In 2009, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation launched the five-year programme A Better Life, to explore what can help older people with high support needs to improve their quality of life (and what ‘quality of life’ means for them) now and in the future. This book was commissioned by JRF to draw out and reflect on the key messages from this body of work. A recurring theme in the programme is that ageing is about all of us; it is everyone’s business, not just those working in care homes, commissioning health and care services, or developing government policies and programmes. The book quotes the personal experiences of individual older people, and asks why it is that personal identity risks getting overlooked at this stage of life. It looks specifically at how they can contribute to the development of the supportive relationships, which older people with high support needs value. It considers the messages about what ‘choice’, ‘control’ and ‘independence’ mean to people as they get older. A concluding chapter summarises key messages and draws together the practical ideas for change that were introduce throughout the report, starting with old age is not about ‘them’: it is about all of us. Older people are individuals, and as a group, they are becoming more diverse. Relationships matter to us whatever our age: we have a fundamental human need to connect with others meaningfully. Older people with high support needs have many assets, strengths and resources; and whatever our age or support needs, we should all be treated as citizens: the individual and collective voices of older people with high support needs should be heard and given power. A short paper is also available that summarises the key messages from JRF’s ‘A better life’ programme of work.
(Edited publisher abstract)
In 2009, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation launched the five-year programme A Better Life, to explore what can help older people with high support needs to improve their quality of life (and what ‘quality of life’ means for them) now and in the future. This book was commissioned by JRF to draw out and reflect on the key messages from this body of work. A recurring theme in the programme is that ageing is about all of us; it is everyone’s business, not just those working in care homes, commissioning health and care services, or developing government policies and programmes. The book quotes the personal experiences of individual older people, and asks why it is that personal identity risks getting overlooked at this stage of life. It looks specifically at how they can contribute to the development of the supportive relationships, which older people with high support needs value. It considers the messages about what ‘choice’, ‘control’ and ‘independence’ mean to people as they get older. A concluding chapter summarises key messages and draws together the practical ideas for change that were introduce throughout the report, starting with old age is not about ‘them’: it is about all of us. Older people are individuals, and as a group, they are becoming more diverse. Relationships matter to us whatever our age: we have a fundamental human need to connect with others meaningfully. Older people with high support needs have many assets, strengths and resources; and whatever our age or support needs, we should all be treated as citizens: the individual and collective voices of older people with high support needs should be heard and given power. A short paper is also available that summarises the key messages from JRF’s ‘A better life’ programme of work.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, needs, quality of life, ageing, relationships, social networks, independence;