Support for older people in the community: Part 1 Care Act

For my research at CLAHRC-EM, we’re in the middle of analysing our survey of health and social care commissioners across East Midlands (UK). We asked them about community services to help older people maintain their wellbeing and independence. In particular we’re interested in how services are funded and whether services are provided by voluntary, private organisations or social enterprises.

Screen grab from My Maps, Google

I presented an update to East Midlands Later Life Forum a short while ago and then read an article where Campaign to End Loneliness highlighted need for ‘range of support’ for older people in the community. This prompted me to summarise a few thoughts on these areas:

Care Act

The postponement of the cap on care costs has meant that much of the Care Act is not being implemented. I’d like to find out from local authorities which aspects are being implemented (answers on a postcard please…?) but I’m sure the broader agenda of addressing wellbeing will still be followed. There were questions as to whether the work on carer’s assessment and support will still be implemented?

Changing context

Alongside the Care Act, there are many other changes affecting community and voluntary sector services. There are concerns from all sectors that austerity and ‘efficiency’ measures are threatening what services and support is available to older people in the community. On top of this there is an awareness of needs of greater numbers of older people with dementia and other long-term conditions. I heard from older people’s forums that, whilst these groups are important to highlight local needs and to inform councils about prioritising their services, they are reaching a critical point of lack of funding. Similarly, several local Community and Voluntary Services (CVS) which provide infrastructure support, are also having to restructure in the face of lack of funding.

Resilience, community assets and wellbeing

There is much talk of ‘resilience’ and this word can be used in many different ways. It can be used to describe an aspect of mental wellbeing of an individual but it is also used to describe a community more generally. A recent publication from The Health Foundation gives a good introduction to these various interlinked topics. It also touches on one criticism of this approach, that is may be used as a cover for a neo-liberal agenda of individualisation and privatisation. When working to improve local services, we should consider whether this may gradually erode the strengths within communities and the impacts on inequality (health and social inequalities). For example, a service that responds to the demand of an individual, may lead to withdrawal of funding from forums which are designed to represent the broader needs of the community?
If you have any thoughts - please comment below or tweet including: @nchadborn
 

In part 2 I will discuss some of the mechanisms of support in the community; Assessments, signposting and outcomes.