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Inequalities in old age: Ireland North and South 2011
- Author:
- CENTRE FOR AGEING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN IRELAND
- Publisher:
- Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 12p.
- Place of publication:
- Dublin
The recession has affected many groups across Ireland. It has increased the risk of poverty in both Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). A previous study showed that the number of single pensioners in NI at risk of poverty had risen in the preceding six years. In ROI, while the rate of pensioners at risk had fallen, the research showed that there was heavy dependence on the State pension for income, and benefit cuts were likely to affect pensioners heavily. This follow-on study examined the impact of the recession across Ireland on the older population. Key findings showed that 23% of pensioner couples and 39% of single pensioners in NI have no income on top of state benefits. 93% of people aged 65 and over in NI benefit from the state pension compared to 91% in ROI. 45% benefit from other pension income, compared to 32% in ROI. As the income data shows for both NI and ROI, the groups with the lowest income will suffer severe consequences with any cuts to state benefits. In the bottom fifth quintile in terms of income in NI, single pensioners earn just £93 per week and pensioner couples earn £169 per week. The bottom fifth quintile in ROI earns €209.41 on average. It is these groups whose health, quality of life and lives will deteriorate with further cuts to state benefits.
'Would you have sandwiches for tea every night?': older people's views of social care in Northern Ireland
- Author:
- AGE NI
- Publisher:
- Age NI
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 23p.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
The aim of this research project, commissioned by Age NI (an independent charity for older people in Northern Ireland), was to consult directly with older people to ascertain their views on all aspects of social care. 3 focus groups were run across Northern Ireland, in Belfast, Cookstown, and Irvinestown. 24 older people attended the focus groups, all aged over 65 years. The discussions focused on 2 main areas: views and experiences of the present arrangements for social care in Northern Ireland, and vision for a future social care system (covering views on what good care would look like and proposals for improving the provision of social care). This report provides the background to the project, and presents its key findings. It sets out the recommendations made, covering: entitlement, services and limitations; quality of care; workforce issues; carers and family support; and finances.
Defining day care
- Author:
- MCVICKER Helen
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 7p.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
The development of day care services within Northern Ireland began in earnest in the 1970s. Initially this form of care was designed to provide sheltered workshops for adults with learning disabilities, but as the concept of day care developed, other user groups began to be catered for, with older people becoming the predominate group. This paper defines day care in the modern context, using three components: who; what; and the setting. ‘Who’ is defines as: adults; have care needs as a result of physical or cognitive impairment; socially isolated; and at risk. ‘What’ is defined as assessment; structured programme; supervision; assistance with personal care or other daily living activities; rehabilitation or treatment; social opportunities/social inclusion; emotional support; promotion of educational, training or employment opportunities; respite for carers. The ‘Setting’ is defined as: non-residential and non-domiciliary; statutory, voluntary, independent sector; some communal element of care; combination of ‘centre-based’ and ‘community- based’ services. This paper suggests that this definition developed by the National Adult Day Services Association would appear to offer the most comprehensive and reflective definition of day services and is one which can be applied to any adult service user group.
Life story work in practice: aiming for enduring change
- Authors:
- GIBSON Faith, CARSON Yvonne
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 18(3), May 2010, pp.20-22.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Life story work is a recognised methodology used to preserve identity, enhance communication and enrich wellbeing for older people, especially those who have dementia. This article reports on a training and development project designed to establish life story work through dementia care services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland. Between November 2008 and May 2009, a trust-wide project was introduced to establish life story work in all its residential and day care facilities serving people with dementia. This account describes the first phase of the project, exploring the outcomes and implications of this innovation for staff carers and their managers, as well as raising issues concerned with establishing innovatory practice. Training was undertaken by 29 staff from 15 facilities, and comprised 4 half-day training sessions provided by Reminiscence Network Northern Ireland. Over 6 months, 29 books were prepared, and in general the process was much enjoyed and participants were extremely proud of their books. This article discusses commitment from managers; the life story book template; training and practice development; feedback from staff; obstacles and distractions; participants’ responses; celebrating the project; follow up; and achieving enduring change.
Unpaid older carers: the backbone of community care - what community care?
- Authors:
- DILLENBURGER Karola, MCKERR Lyn
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 19(3), July 2009, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
A recent study conducted in Northern Ireland asked older parents who care for their sons and daughters with disabilities at home about their experiences. This article highlights some of their responses. Recommendations for policy makers are included.
An evaluation of assessment tools used for older people with complex health and social care needs
- Authors:
- MCCORMACK B.G., et al
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 30p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This study examined current assessment instruments used in Northern Ireland used to assess the abilities and needs of older people. To instruments general applicability according to accreditation principles outlined as good practice by the Department of Health were examined. The coverage of the instruments according to the nine domains and 40 sub-domains of the National Service Framework for Older people were also examined. Eleven instruments were received from all Trusts providing community health and social care services. The instruments were then analysed looking at areas of good practice and the domains of assessment. Findings include: general assessment did not capture the perceptions of an older person regarding their health and social care needs or how their quality of life is affected by loss of ability; the level of participation by the older person in their assessment was unclear; considerable variability in the level of coverage of all nine domains within different Trust documentation. The findings support the necessity for to develop a standardized instrument; standardized on the level of assessment on each domain and standardized across all trusts.
The usability of the Northern Ireland single assessment tool for the health and social care of older people
- Author:
- MCCORMACK B.
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 30p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
The Northern Ireland Single Assessment Tool (NISAT) was developed for the National Service Framework for Older People. This comprised of three stands (Contact Screening, Core and Complex Assessment) supported by a number of specialists assessments (such as G.P assessment, Carers assessment, Specialist Assessment Summary). The NISAT was developed through a participatory process of engagement with front-line staff, and had acceptable psychometric properties. This study examined users options regarding the usability of the three components of the NISAT and invited comments on how best to implement training across the province. Assessors were given the opportunity to use the NISAT with a purposive sample of older people. The findings informed discussion with assessors regarding training, its structure, contents and format.
The reliability of the core element of the Northern Ireland single assessment tool (NISAT) for the health and social care of older people
- Authors:
- MCCORMACK B.G., et al
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 26p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
The Northern Ireland Single Assessment Tool (NISAT) was developed to address the assessment process as highlighted in the NSF for Older People. The NISAT consists of three main parts: the Contact Screening; the Core NISAT; and the Complex NISAT. The Core assessment consists of eight domains covering all areas of the older people's life - mental health; communication and sensory functioning; personal care and daily tasks; mobility and movement; awareness and decision making; accommodation and living arrangements; employment, finance and leisure; and physical health and medication. This study used case studies with a purposive sample of trained assessors to determine the inter-rater reliability of the Core NISAT. The study aimed to: determine the reliability (percentage agreement) of quantitative measures between assessors; determine the statistical significance of the quantitative measures; and determine the overall reliability of the Core NISAT. A sample of twenty seven assessors participated in the study. The quantitative findings from each of the 27 completed assessments for each case study were analysed. Overall there was a high level of inter-rater reliability on the quantitative measures contained in the core NISAT. This high inter-rater reliability was consistent across each domain and in each case study. It can be concluded from the findings that the core NISAT is reliable as a measure of older peoples’ needs and abilities.
Making older people equal: reforming the law on access to services in Northern Ireland
- Authors:
- GLENNON Lisa, DICKSON Brice
- Publisher:
- Changing Ageing Partnership
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 93p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This research examined the law in other countries to see how they protect people against discrimination on the grounds of age when accessing goods, facilities or services. The aim was to see if similar laws should be implemented in Northern Ireland. Chapter 1 explains the legal, social and political background to the research project, including developments in England and Wales and at the level of the European Union. Chapter 2 sets out the findings that emerged from the research, based on a study of the laws operating in the four countries examined in detail (Republic of Ireland, Canada, the United States of America, and Australia). Chapter 3 provides a brief summary of the recommendations based on the research findings. The report concludes that there is a very strong case for amending the law of Northern Ireland so as to outlaw discrimination on age grounds when people are accessing goods, facilities or services. Appendices are included which provide an overview of the law in the four countries studied and details of the scope of protection provided.
Department of Finance and Personnel memorandum on the tenth report from the Public Accounts Committee session 2007-2008: older people and domiciliary care
- Author:
- NORTHERN IRELAND. Department of Finance and Personnel
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 10p.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
The Committee agrees with the Department that care packages must be tailored to meet the individual’s needs. However, the Committee recommends that institutional care should be used only in cases where domiciliary care is not a feasible option. The vast majority of older people want to remain independent, in their own homes and in control of their own lives for as long as possible. If these objectives are to have a significant impact on the future development of care services for older people, the Committee would expect to see a substantial shift in funding from institutional to domiciliary care.