Older people and their carers often have distinctive needs for information and advice. This is a result of life changing events and the ageing process. Such needs may include information and advice on:
- Social contact;
- care;
- financial matters;
- housing;
- health;
- and practical support.
Not being able to access good quality information and advice can have negative health and well-being impacts for older people.
There are many forms of information and advice, such as:
- Information: For example guidance materials that are not tailored to a client's specific needs.
- Information Services: Providing clients with information they need in order for them to take action on their specific situation.
- Advice Services: Normally, these services involve:
- Get an enquiry from a client.
- Give information and explain options.
- Identify actions that the client can take.
- Give some assistance in doing so. (For example, contact third parties or fill in forms.)
- Advice with casework: Includes all the elements of an advice service (see above) and also involves taking action on behalf of the client.
- Signposting: Similar to information services, signposting gives clients information about providers of services that match their needs.
- Referrals: Needs an adviser to find a service provider for a client that meets their needs. The adviser will make contact with the provider and (where possible) will make an appointment for the client.
The local picture
There are over 38,000 individuals aged above 65 in Calderdale (Office of National Statistics (ONS), 2016).
It has been suggested that the specific requirements for and access to information and advice are compounded for three particular groups of older people:
- Those affected by poor health and disability;
- Those living in rural areas; and
- Those from ethnic minority communities. (Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), 2010; Benson and Waterhouse, 1998)
Calderdale has areas in which each of these factors are more prevalent:
- According to the 2011 Census, the following wards have a higher than average % of people living with a ‘limiting long term illness or disability’: Todmorden, Rastrick, Town, Illingworth, Sowerby Bridge, Park (Public Health England (PHE), 2015);
- Ryburn is classified as the most rural ward in Calderdale followed by Calder and Luddenden Foot (ONS, 2011);
- According to the 2011 Census, Park, Warley and Skircoat wards had a higher % of people stating their ethnicity as Black and Minority Ethnicity (BME) (compared to the Calderdale average).
Current provision
Detailed below are some of the sources of information and advice for older people in Calderdale including:
Age UK Calderdale
Age UK offer advice, information and general help to people aged 50+ from welfare, benefits, money matters, leisure facilities, consumer issues and much more. Information and advice can be accessed via their local centres, through trained staff, volunteers and the website. Home visits can also be arranged for people unable to get in to the office. Age UK refer and sign post older people to other appropriate services, voluntary and statutory agencies.
Calderdale Council Gateway to Care
- Gateway to Care is the first point of contact for adult social care. Gateway to Care offer practical information and advice which will help people to continue to live independently at home. This may include, for example, help with mobility and confidence after an accident, illness, injury or deterioration in a condition.
- The Gateway to Care team includes friendly, experienced social care advisors, clinical advisors and social workers who bring their expertise together to make sure people receive coordinated care, support and advice.
Better Lives @ No.42
Better lives @ No.42 is new way of providing adult social care in Calderdale to boost the health and wellbeing of local residents. The shop, which is run by social workers, will be a place where people can go for information and advice on the services available in Calderdale and will also be an opportunity to meet other people. The new service aims to provide support in the community at an earlier stage, to prevent or delay health issues in the future. This means people can stay independent for longer and avoid stays in hospital or care homes.
Lead the Way
Lead the Way provides information and advice to people with a Learning Disability, their families and carers who live in Calderdale.
Calderdale Citizens Advice Bureau
Via local centres, through trained staff, volunteers and website.
Calderdale Forum 50+
Via their website.
Women's Centre
Via their local centres, through trained staff, volunteers and website.
Calderdale Disabled Advice Resource Team (DART)
Via local centres, through trained staff, volunteers and signposting via website.
Calderdale Carers Project
Through trained staff, volunteers and website.
Additional to these services - information and advice regarding health may be sought at GP surgeries, pharmacies and numerous condition specific sources such as the Stroke Association, Alzheimer’s Society, Parkinson’s UK.
The majority of these are located in and around Calderdale. However, there are many more organisations such as the Royal Voluntary Services, Red Cross, Independent Age, Age UK (national) etc. that provide information and advice on subject areas relating to older people’s concerns and issues.
The evident issue here however is that sometimes the amount of information and advice from varying sources can be the cause of confusion; the task of finding information and advice can appear daunting and knowing who to speak to in the first instance can often be unclear.
Making Space
Practical help and/or emotional support for people caring for someone with a mental health condition. Professional and caring support workers provide a free service to carers in Calderdale through providing:
- Emotional support
- Offer advice and guidance to assist carers
- Support to enjoy life outside of the caring role
- Signpost other services and organisations that can help carers
- Provide information about mental health conditions, treatments and local services
- Support to communicate with mental health services
Unmet needs
In response to unmet need previously identified we have developed and enhanced the following:
Extra Care Housing developing in Calderdale
The schemes are made up of self-contained flats and other facilities all under one roof. To help people manage in their own homes everything has been carefully designed to suit older people. Care and support services are also provided, which means that most people can stay in their own home. This is even if they are quite frail, or become more dependent over time.
Chair based exercise Care Homes
A successful pilot was completed in residential settings and is being embedded. The Better Living Team are currently delivering a 6 week pilot training package of Chair based exercise training to staff in care homes. Chair based exercises have been shown to have a beneficial effect at maintaining or promoting independence and mobility in older people. Plans are in place to pilot chair based exercises with homecare providers.
Molly & Bill
For some time now, the Care Quality Commission has emphasised the need for care providers to meet not only the physical care and support needs of residents but also take into account their social, cognitive, physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
The availability of creative activities for older people in residential care has been recognised as “a major determinant of quality of life and affects mortality rates, depression, physical function and behavioural symptoms” as cited by the Alzheimer’s Society in their report ‘Home From Home’.
The Molly and Bill pilot set out to deliver a programme of creative activities across 6 care settings by a range of creative providers and volunteers. This has been a resounding success with positive outcomes for the residents, care settings, volunteers and creative providers. The success has led to Molly and Bill being extended for a further year.
Projected future need
Current estimates suggest 18% of the population in Calderdale is aged 65 or over. By 2037 the ONS estimate 25% of Calderdale’s population will be over 65. This will equate approximately to an additional 21,000 people over 65. Such a large rise, in a little over 20 years, will undoubtedly increase demand on services and the prevalence of conditions pertinent to older people. (ONS, 2014)
Key considerations linked to the known evidence base (what works?)
According to Age UK’s ‘Information and Advice for Older People Evidence Review’ general barriers to accessing information and advice include:
- Becoming aware of available information and advice;
- Gaining access to appropriate and comprehensive information and advice;
- Receiving practical assistance to act on the information and achieve a solution.
Additional barriers may also be present for:
- Those who are housebound and or/those with mobility difficulties;
- Those with sensory impairment;
- Those living in rural areas.
References
References
- Age UK: Information and Advice for Older People - Evidence Review, no date.
- Benson and Waterhouse, 1998: Information & Advice Strategy, Consultants’ final report for Age Concern England.
- ONS, 2011: 2011 rural/urban classification.
- ONS, 2014: Annual Mid-year Population Estimates, 2014.
- PHE, 2015: Local Health.
- PSSRU, 2010: Measuring the outcomes of information and advice services: final report.