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;
This review considers the needs and situations of older people with high support needs from different equality groups, and the barriers they commonly face in service provision. It adopts a ‘capability-based’ approach to equality, analysing older people with high support needs from different equality groups and highlighting relevant debates associated to equality and diversity. It summarises from existing evidence the profile, needs and experiences of older people with high support needs, in terms of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation and poverty. It also highlights key debates related to the equality and diversity of this group and suggests ways in which the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s programme ‘A Better Life’ might contribute to them. The review draws on reports, abstracts, articles and statistics and conversations with 13 experts working across the range of equality strands in policy, research and practice. It also presents a separate annotated list of projects, initiatives, networks and organisations which have particular interests, expertise and activities relating to equality and diversity and older people with high support needs.
This review considers the needs and situations of older people with high support needs from different equality groups, and the barriers they commonly face in service provision. It adopts a ‘capability-based’ approach to equality, analysing older people with high support needs from different equality groups and highlighting relevant debates associated to equality and diversity. It summarises from existing evidence the profile, needs and experiences of older people with high support needs, in terms of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation and poverty. It also highlights key debates related to the equality and diversity of this group and suggests ways in which the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s programme ‘A Better Life’ might contribute to them. The review draws on reports, abstracts, articles and statistics and conversations with 13 experts working across the range of equality strands in policy, research and practice. It also presents a separate annotated list of projects, initiatives, networks and organisations which have particular interests, expertise and activities relating to equality and diversity and older people with high support needs.
Subject terms:
LGBT people, needs, older people, poverty, religious beliefs, social care provision, black and minority ethnic people, diversity, disabilities, equal opportunities, gender, complex needs;