C3 - The Societal Effects of an Ageing Population Flashcards
Health and social care provision for older people
Older people have more demands on health and social care provision than any other group in society. This increases with age. Often health and social care services are required to work closely together to meet the holistic needs of older people. For example, people receiving end of life care may require professionals to work together to monitor and provide medication, psychological support and personal care.
Health care
Health professionals provide a range of different services. These can be thought of as primary or secondary care. The first point of call for older people is usually the primary care services such as their GP surgery, pharmacy or dentist. Those with conditions such as osteoporosis or mental health problems may be referred to specialist secondary health professionals/units to monitor and support their ongoing needs. Acute care is health care that meets immediate needs, such as a broken hip, cancer treatment or specialist healthcare for chronic conditions. Acute care may be short term for many but, for older people, hospital stays may be extended as they require a longer period for recovery and recuperation.
Social care
Social care services essentially exist to help and support people in need for practical help and/or personal care due to disability or illness. The type of services provided could include having a carer or support worker (enabler) to help around the home with practical tasks and personal care. There could also be structural changes to homes which could support an individual to live more independently. Although technically available to everyone, there has to be practical and financial assessment of physical, intellectual emotional and social needs and abilities to assess how much support can be provided. After completing the assessment, the local authority will decide how much of the care and support services they will provide. Social care services can take different forms, for example help to live at home, day centres, sheltered accommodation, respite care or residential care. Charities and private organisations can also be involved with delivering social care services.
Financial support and entitlements
Many older people will have the advantage of an occupational pension as well as a state pension. Others may have to rely on their state pension only. Older people can claim pension credit to top up their pension to a minimum level and, depending on circumstances, may also claim housing benefit and council tax reduction. For people retiring after 5th April 2016, the minimum pension will increase to meet the minimum level necessary for all pensioners who have made sufficient contributions. Other financial benefits for over 60s include free NHS prescriptions, eye tests and eye care. Concessionary travel fares are available at pensionable age, as well as winter fuel payments, and, for those on low income, cold weather payments. By the age of 75, free television licenses and other discounts can make for a comfortable old age, as long as people remain active and lead a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, for many older people, retirement years can mean relying on health and social care services for support.
Since the Griffiths report, community care, an agenda for action, and the introduction of the NHS and community care act 1990 m, there has been a move away from institutional care towards independent living. Griffiths was particularly concerned about long-term and continuing care of vulnerable groups within the community, including older people. The report focused on the different types of provision between health and social care services, and the way in which the services could work together in partnership to take responsibility for care in the community.
Social care services can take different forms, for example help to live at home, support for going out in the community, accessing day centres, sheltered accommodation or even a place in a residential/nursing home. The majority of older people remain in their own home in the community, where they may be supported by friends, family and health and social services.
Some older people choose to move to sheltered housing where they can call for assistance if and when needed. Daycare centres provide a social setting where people can meet and some NHS providers offer daycare to assist with physiotherapy and other health needs. A small proportion of older people choose residential care where 24-hour support is available.
All services for older people aim to provide respect and choice for service users as part of their policy on quality assurance. Many day and residential services provide a range of social and leisure activities for service users. Older people should always have a choice as to how active they wish to be. Quality services will never attempt to force older people to be active and engaged but they will provide opportunities for individuals to maintain the continuity of their lives and remain as active as they wish.
The total population of the UK ages 65+ has increased from 4.5 million in 1951 to 8.7 million in 2011 and is forecast to increase to 16.6 million in 2051.
Economic effects of an ageing population
The office for national statistics predicts that the population of the UK will rise from 64.6 million in 2014 to 74.3 million by 2039. According to research by the king’s fund, the average life expectancy in 2012 was 79.2 years for men and 83.3 years for women.
Figures from 2012 identified people over 65 made up 16% of the population. The report also revealed a wide regional variation in the percentage of older people in the population. For example, in Tower Hamlets in the East End of London, people over 65 years of age make up about 6% of the population. This is compared to 25% of the population over the age of 65 living in Dorset, a predominantly rural county. Approximately 30% of people aged over 85 will potentially require support from health and social care services. However, meeting increased demand for care services has been made more difficult by government funding to local councils for care being reduced. This could lead to less local authority funding to support older people to live in their own homes resulting in an increase in the number of older people needing residential care.
Statistics from 2012/2013 identified that people over the age of 85 were more likely to access mental health services. General hospital admissions for people over the age of 85 and more than twice as likely to be emergency admissions (65%), than for people in the 0-64 age group (32%). Home-based services were mostly accessed by older people, who often required adaptations to their homes, for example, installation of stair-lifts and wet rooms. These adaptations are very expensive so often the individual may be asked to pay for at least part of the cost. Additional costs may be incurred for other resources and equipment required to ensure that older people can live independently and maintain a good quality of life. Recent research by age UK identified that, due to an increasing ageing population and government cuts to welfare, there are about 2 million older people with identified care needs who cannot afford to access social care, health and support.
