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What Wales can teach the world
- Author:
- MORDEY Marc
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 15(4), 2011, pp.153-163.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The Welsh Assembly Government published its 10-year Older People’s Strategy in 2003. In the first 5 years, the principle aims were to increase awareness of older people’s concerns and to establish processes and structures for delivering longer term action. The second phase, launched in 2008, focused on increasing the health and wellbeing of older people and finding ways by which they can stay independent and active for longer. The purpose of this paper is to explore the development and implementation of the Older People's Strategy for Wales and the role of the Older People's Commissioner for Wales; and to identify lessons for other countries that are considering different approaches to implementing ageing strategies. Based on round table discussions held during the summer of 2011 with key people involved in the development and delivery of the Older People's Strategy, it sets out the key factors for a successful policy and practice approach to developing effective ageing strategies and public services for older people. The paper concludes by focusing on the significant issues, challenges and opportunities ahead.
Hidden harm?: alcohol and older people in Wales
- Author:
- ALCOHOL CONCERN
- Publisher:
- Alcohol Concern
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 5p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing outlines the problem of alcohol misuse among older people in Wales, in the context of an ageing population. Overall, alcohol consumption tends to decline with age, but there is evidence that the proportion of older people drinking more than the recommended amount is rising. Older people may be at increased risk of alcohol misuse because of factors related to ageing, including disruption to lifestyle following retirement, social isolation, bereavement, longterm ill-health and disrupted sleep. Older people’s drinking also tends to receive little attention. Reasons for this include a focus on the problem of young people’s binge drinking and the fact that older people can be secretive about their drinking and about personal problems in general. Other factors identified are the lack of awareness by health professionals, ageist attitudes among both health professionals and family carers, and lack of liaison between the NHS and local alcohol services. The briefing concludes with a number of recommendations for action to ensure the issue is addressed and managed.
Nutrition in community settings: a pathway and resource pack for health and social care professionals, the third sector, care home staff, relatives and carers
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publisher:
- Wales. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Focusing on the importance of ensuring that vulnerable and frail adults (particularly older people) living in their own homes, or in other community settings such as care homes, eat well and healthily, the aim of this document is to improve standards of nutrition for people living in the community. It is in two parts. Part 1 contains a pathway showing the framework of advice and support available to people who either care for those living in community settings or whose professional work brings them into contact with people who may have eating difficulties. It includes a commentary with notes for the general public and community organisations, and for health care professionals. Part 2 contains a resource pack with publications, advice leaflets, links to other sources of information, sample risk classifications and care plan templates, designed to help people using the pathway to source information needed to manage situations effectively.
The Equality Act 2010 and adult mental health services: achieving non-discriminatory age-appropriate services: joint guidance from the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculties of Old Age and General and Community Psychiatry
- Author:
- ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 11p.
- Place of publication:
- London
As of April 2012, age discrimination will be banned in the UK and health and social care services will be legally required to promote age equality in their adult mental health services. Of all health and social care services, older people’s mental healthcare has been highlighted as one of the worst examples of discrimination. There is a danger that commissioners and providers of mental health services, in an attempt to meet the need for equality and to save money, might attempt to merge adult and older people’s services into ‘age-blind’ services. However, this does not recognise age-appropriateness and will result in indirect age discrimination. This document explains what age discrimination is, gives examples of age discrimination in action, describes the requirements under the Equality Act 2010, and provides guidance on responding to the equality challenge in a non-discriminatory age-appropriate way.
Short changed: protecting people with dementia from financial abuse
- Author:
- CHANDARIA Karishma
- Publisher:
- Alzheimer's Society
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 60p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The ways in which we can manage our money is rapidly changing, and this can pose serious challenges for people living with dementia. People with dementia and their families may need support to manage their money and stay safe from financial abuse. Alzheimer's Society undertook the largest ever survey carried out on this subject, and analysed responses from 104 carers and 47 people with dementia - as well as focus groups and interviews with professionals - to find out more about this issue. The report reveals that 15% of people living with dementia - an estimated 112,500 people - have been victims of financial abuse such as cold calling, scam mail or mis-selling. 62% of carers reported that the person they care for had been approached by cold callers or doorstep sales people, and 70% reported that telephone callers routinely targeted the person they care for. Not only have people lost money, but they and their families have also been suffering stress, exhaustion and frustration as a result. The report also highlights the challenges people with dementia can face when managing their money. 76% of people reported having trouble managing their money, with a range of issues highlighted such as the challenges of bank's security procedures, and a lack of dementia awareness in banks and other financial services organisations. The report calls for improved community support services for people with dementia to help them manage their money.
Impacts of AA and DLA on older people in Wales
- Author:
- LE WALES
- Publisher:
- Welsh Government
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 74p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Despite a long history of provision of Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA), there has been little research into the role that these benefits play in meeting the needs of older people, or the impact the benefits have on the demand for social care and individuals’ ability to pay for personal care. This study draws on official data sources and on stakeholder consultations to review the current take‐up and use of income from two disability related benefits – Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – and explores links with the demand for social care. People in Wales aged over 65 who reported that they have physical and/or cognitive difficulties were about 15 times more likely than the rest of the older population to receive AA or DLA. However, around half of people with physical or cognitive difficulties did not receive AA or DLA. Barriers to take‐up that have been identified include a lack of awareness about benefits, an unwillingness to accept ‘disabled’ status and perceptions of arduous claims processes. The research uses this information to develop projections of the future demand for these payments under various policy scenarios, including the UK Coalition Government’s proposed reforms to DLA.
Awareness of social and emotional functioning in people with early-stage dementia and implications for carers
- Authors:
- NELIS Sharon M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(8), November 2011, pp.961-969.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigated how social and emotional function was reduced in early-stage dementia, and whether this related to the quality of life of the person with dementia (PWD), the quality of the relationship between the PWD and carer and carer stress. Participants included 97 older people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, vascular or mixed dementia, who rated their social functioning using the Socio-Emotional Questionnaire (SEQ), and carers provided parallel ratings. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, PWD quality of life, the perceived quality of the relationship for both partners and carer stress were also measured. Findings revealed three domains of social functioning: emotional recognition and empathy; social relationships; and prosocial behaviour. Unawareness was related to cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric disturbance, but not to quality of life. Lower awareness was associated with greater carer stress and poorer perceived quality of relationship. In conclusion, a lack of awareness of social functioning had implications for relationship quality and carer stress.
Better support at lower cost: improving efficiency and effectiveness in services for older people in Wales
- Author:
- SOCIAL SERVICES IMPROVEMENT AGENCY
- Publisher:
- Social Services Improvement Agency
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 81p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This report, commissioned by the Social Services Improvement Agency for Wales, aimed to review current practice on the approaches used by Welsh councils in delivering efficient care and support services for older people, report on notable practice and make recommendations on ways in which local councils could continue to take forward this work in partnership with other relevant agencies. Drawing on examples of good practice in Wales and evidence from successful models elsewhere in the UK, it suggests a future model of care for Wales which seeks to improve outcomes for users, encourage support within the community thus reducing pressure on traditional social care services and develop new approaches to commissioning which optimise the money available. Establishing such a model will involve challenges for councils and their partners: shifting prevailing cultures within social services as patterns of care change, being prepared to see numbers of people cared for go down as more people are supported effectively ‘outside the system’ and seeking genuinely citizen-centred approaches that will call into question traditional modes of delivery. The report notes that the clear evidence suggests that councils and other organisations are up to this challenge.
Gone for good?: prefunded insurance for long-term care
- Author:
- LLOYD James
- Publisher:
- Strategic Society Centre
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 65p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In the debate on how to fund long-term care in England and Wales, some stakeholders have advocated a central role for financial services, and pre-funded consumer insurance in particular. This report examines this approach by considering: the potential role that pre-funded insurance could take in funding long-term care; and the extent to which the pre-funded long-term care insurance market can help policymakers achieve key strategic policy objectives for social care. It examines the demand and supply-side barriers to the use of pre-funded long-term care insurance, noting the last UK provider exited the market in 2010 citing a lack of demand. No country has achieved an effective market in pre-funded long-term care insurance, with France having the highest rate at 15%. The report argues that even if the UK were in the future to achieve a take-up of 15% this would still result in outcomes that failed to meet many policy objectives for long-term care funding, particularly associated with ‘catastrophic costs’, fiscal pressures and the incidence of means-testing. It concludes by outlining some of the multiple other roles that the financial services industry could take in funding social care, particularly around delivering and servicing a state-sponsored insurance scheme for long-term care, akin to the schemes found in countries such as Singapore and the Netherlands.
Practice into policy: the needs of elderly prisoners in England and Wales
- Authors:
- HAYES Adrian, SHAW Jenny
- Journal article citation:
- Prison Service Journal, 194, March 2011, pp.38-44.
- Publisher:
- Her Majesty's Prison Service of England and Wales
People over 60 are now the fastest-growing age group in the prison system in England and Wales. In the last 10 years, the number of sentenced prisoners over 60 has grown by almost 250%. Research has shown that older prisoners have a very different profile of health and need with more chronic physical illness, depression and victimisation from other prisoners. HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has been prominent in identifying the different needs of older people and responding to them. However, to date, there has been no national strategy for the care and management of older prisoners by HM Prison Service. This study documented the content of HMIP’s reports from 2003-08 with respect to older prisoners. The aim was to establish whether more recent reports made more reference to this population, and also to analyse the content of the references. There were 263 reports within the study period, 56% of which had at least one reference to older prisoners. For the years 2007 and 2008, significantly more reports than expected referred to older prisoners. There were 318 positive comments, 348 negative comments, and 174 recommendations. The results demonstrate that HMIP are taking seriously their interest in older offenders, and judging prisons by their management of them.