Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Local authorities + older people + arts = a creative combination
- Author:
- CUTLER David
- Publisher:
- Baring Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 32
This report presents the case for local authority involvement in arts projects for older people. It sets out the benefits of participation in the arts for older people, it also argues that arts projects have additional benefits which can help local authorities deliver their own objectives at a time of increasing financial cuts. The report highlights five roles and interests of local authorities that makes them uniquely well suited to promote arts in the lives of older people. These are: improving the health and well being of older people, including reducing loneliness; arts and cultural services; integrating arts into older people's services and social care; social inclusion and community development; and leadership and coordination. Six case studies are included to illustrate the work that can be led or supported by local authorities. These include using arts to promoting mental and physical well being in St Helens; tackling loneliness in Fife; the provision of arts and social care services in Epping Forest; and leadership and coordination in Manchester. It also highlights relevant organisations and resources. (Edited publisher abstract)
Evidence, insight, or intuition? Investment decisions in the commissioning of prevention services for older people
- Authors:
- MILLER Robin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Care Services Management, 7(4), 2013, pp.119-127.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
English adult social care commissioners are expected to make ‘evidence based’ decisions on how best to invest public sector funding. This study explores the types of evidence that commissioners use in relation to prevention services for older people and the other factors that influence their investment decisions. A study of local authority Directors of Adult Social Services (DASSs) was used to identify three local prevention interventions. Semi-structured interviews with leads for these interventions explored the evidence and other factors that influenced the investment process. Commissioners drew on a variety of published evidence, in particular that deriving from central government and its regional representative bodies, and third sector organizations with specialist knowledge. Local evidence was also generated through the undertaking of pilots and gathering of performance data. Alongside these ‘rational’ decision-making processes were strong political, personal, and relational dimensions related primarily to the influence of elected members and the hierarchical power of DASSs. Capturing experiential evidence and knowledge of service users and frontline practitioners, being clear about expected impacts and monitoring accordingly, and using recognized evaluation tools would provide further local evidence and enable better comparison and sharing across local authorities. (Publisher abstract)
Managed personal budgets for older people: what are English local authorities doing to facilitate personalized and flexible care?
- Authors:
- BAXTER Kate, RABIEE Parvaneh, GLENDINNING Caroline
- Journal article citation:
- Public Money and Management, 33(6), 2013, pp.399-406.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper explores how three local authorities in England have tried to facilitate personalized home care for older people through changes in commissioning and market development activities; and how these changes have been experienced by support planners and home care agency managers. Two borough council and one county council were selected. One council offered Individual Service Funds (IFS) and one offered 'virtual budgets'. Overall, it appears that changes are well intended, but the practicalities of implementing them raise some challenges that mean desired objectives may not always be achieved. (Edited publisher abstract)
The effectiveness of local authority social services' occupational therapy for older people in Great Britain: a critical literature review
- Authors:
- BONIFACE Gail, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(12), 2013, pp.538-547.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This literature review systematically selected, critically appraised, and thematically synthesized the post 2000 published and unpublished evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions for older people in social care services. Identified themes established: the localized nature of social care services for older people; organizational and policy impacts on services, and factors influencing effectiveness and cost effectiveness. Although occupational therapists are increasingly involved in rehabilitation and reablement, there is a continuing focus on equipment and adaptations provision. A high level of service user satisfaction was identified, once timely occupational therapy services were received. Overall, occupational therapy in social care is perceived as effective in improving quality of life for older people and their carers, and cost effective in making savings for other social and healthcare services. However, the complex nature of social care services makes it difficult to disaggregate the effectiveness of occupational therapy from other services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Older people's prevention services: comparing perspectives of local authorities and the third sector
- Author:
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH. School for Social Care Research
- Publisher:
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 4
- Place of publication:
- London
Third sector organisations (TSOs) have historically played a significant role in the delivery of adult social care. Often seen to be associated with qualities such as strong community links, access to disadvantaged groups and innovative practice, TSOs remain a popular choice with local authority commissioners as providers of preventative services. This study explored the views of nine locally commissioned TSOs and two national organisations which provide preventative services for older people. Senior managers were interviewed about their views of the purpose of such services, how the TSO understood their impacts, and their experience of being commissioned by the public sector. The results were added to previous research with local authorities to build a picture of the local authority and third sector relationship. The research identifies positive aspects within the current arrangements, but also gaps in respect of setting and understanding of outcomes and a reliance on personal relationships within the commissioning process. (Edited publisher abstract)
Short changed: the Care Bill, top-ups and the emerging crisis in residential care funding
- Authors:
- LLOYD James, INDEPENDENT AGE
- Publisher:
- Independent Age
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 28
- Place of publication:
- London
In England, more than 350,000 older people live in residential care, of whom 175,000 are ‘self-funders’ who pay for their residential care fees themselves, 143,000 have their residential care fees are paid by their council, and 56,000 ‘top-up’ the local authority funding they receive via so-called ‘third party payments. This report sets out the context for the government reforms to social care by reviewing key aspects of the current residential care market in England, including the growing use of ‘third party’ top-ups. It identifies those aspects of the Care Bill and the government’s ‘capped cost’ reforms to care funding in England that will have significant implications for the operation of ‘top-up’ payments. It explores the consequences of the new category of top-up payments - ‘self-funder top-ups’ - that will emerge following the 2016 reforms to care funding in England, and the rules that should be applied to them. It makes recommendations to policymakers that existing rules on top-ups must be properly applied, and must also be applied to the new category of ‘self-funder top-ups’ from 2016 when the Care Bill reforms are due to take effect. Applying these rules will have budgetary implications for local authorities and care providers, in light of which the Government must review public spending accordingly. (Edited publisher abstract)
How far do managed personal budgets offer choice and control for older people using home care services?
- Author:
- UNIVERSITY OF YORK. Social Policy Research Unit
- Publisher:
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 4
- Place of publication:
- London
Research commissioned by the School for Social Care Research from the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York suggests that many older people may be missing out on the benefits of personal budgets (PBs), because they have limited opportunities to shape services to their personal preferences and circumstances. Older people are often unwilling to take on responsibility for managing a cash direct payment and employing their own carers. Therefore, most older people who used to pay for council-commissioned services ( most commonly home care) have their PB managed by the local council. This in-depth study of three English councils (two unitary boroughs and one shire county) with large older populations and large proportions of people using managed PBs found that the main restriction on older people’s choice and control was the level of the PB, which usually covered only essential personal care needs. The study also found that councils were retaining much of the decision-making power: some restricted the tasks that home care agencies could undertake to personal care only; others required any changes to care plans be approved by them. Flexible options for PBs such as time banking or Individual Service Funds were not fully utilised. Time banking, where time is saved from routine visits to use later on for alternative activities, was restricted in both availability and scope. This was due to fears by some home care agencies and older people that a PB would be reduced if the council perceived there was spare capacity that could be banked. Individual Service Funds, where budgets are held by home care agencies and managed in direct negotiation with users, did not appear to be fully operational in the study councils, as budgets were all still held by councils. (Edited publisher abstract)
Close to home recommendations review
- Author:
- EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 34
'Close to home: an inquiry into older people and human rights in home care', published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2011, presented the EHRC's findings and recommendations following a year-long formal inquiry. This report presents the EHRC’s assessment of what local authorities, Government, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Local Government Ombudsman have done in response to recommendations directed at them in the 2011 report. It finds that, while around 66% of local authorities responded to the EHRC's survey. and around three-quarters have taken some action, only a small number are implementing a systematic human rights based approach to the way in which they assess, commission and monitor care services. Care workers' low pay and status, coupled with high workforce turnover rates, are significant factors exacerbating older ppoele's human rights. The legislative framework still does not give adequate protection, given the Government's resistance to closing this loophole in the Human Right Act. More positive is the move by the CQC towards inspections tailored to specific sectors. Norman Lamb MP (Minister of State for Care) is credited for his commitment to improving the current home care system both for service users and care workers, and for taking personal leadership of the Homecare Innovation Challenge. This report also comments on how banning age discrimination should operate; monitoring adult social care commissioning; and regulation. (Original abstract)
Older people and home care in Wales: findings from a survey of service users
- Authors:
- LLEWELLYN Mark, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 14(3), 2013, pp.167-179.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an account of a comprehensive and independent study of 1,029 older people who receive home care in Wales. The study aims to expand knowledge on the views of older people, a group who traditionally have struggled to make their voices heard. It asked older people about six specific components of home care: being listened to; having trained, knowledgeable and skilled care workers; having enough time to be cared for; receiving care from as few different workers as possible; receiving quality care; and being signposted to other sources of information. Design/methodology/approach – After an initial literature review and period of analysis, a thematic framework for home care was developed which contained the six components described above. A questionnaire was subsequently designed and distributed via the post to all home care services over 65 years old in four local authorities across Wales. A sample response rate of 26.7 per cent was achieved. Findings – The paper provides evidence on the levels of satisfaction (or otherwise) with the home care received by older people in Wales. Overall, nearly 85 per cent of older people are either “satisfied” or “very satisfied”, and given the sample size these data are significant (within appropriate confidence intervals) for the whole of the 25,000 people who receive home care in Wales. However, it is difficult to contextualise these findings given that there are no effective comparator data. Research limitations/implications – Given the chosen research approach, the results may lack a certain depth of understanding. That said, the size of the sample does provide commissioners and providers of services with certainty about the general population view. Originality/value – This paper offers a unique independent analysis of home care in Wales, and provides the reader with detailed insights into the views of older people who rarely get a chance to be heard. (Publisher abstract)
Care home top-up fees: the secret subsidy
- Authors:
- PASSINGHAM Anna, HOLLOWAY James, BOTTERY Simon
- Publisher:
- Independent Age
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 30
- Place of publication:
- London
Councils are required to check that ‘top-up payments’ – paid by relatives to improve the quality of council-funded care - are voluntary, and that families can afford to pay them. In this report, Independent Age uses responses to Freedom of Information requests it made to all English councils with adult social services responsibilities about third party top-up fees for council-funded care home residents. It found that of the 129 councils (out of 152) responding, only 36 (28%) provided complete data, a further 36 (28%) did not provide any data at all, and 57 (44%) provided only incomplete data or provided data that suggested they were not compliant with regulations. In addition, the top two concerns affecting callers to Independent Age's advice service in 2012 were care home funding and third party top-ups. Findings from a joint survey with the English Community Care Association (ECCA) report the views of care homes that reinforce the FOI findings: top-up payments are being paid by relatives, because the care home fees paid by councils are too low. The report summarises requirements made in the two main pieces of guidance from the Department of Health: Local Authority Circular LAC (2004)20: Guidance on National Assistance Act 1948 (Choice of Accommodation) Directions 1992; and Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG). The report concludes that the evidence suggests that top-up fees have become a ‘secret subsidy’ paid in many areas by families of the poorest care home residents to support the low level of care home funding that councils are willing or able to provide. (Original abstract)